Sci-fi fans everywhere were over the moon when it was announced that critically acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve would be directing a film adaptation of Dune, the classic science fiction novel by Frank Herbert. It was the third time Herbert's epic has been adapted for the screen, but it's the first time the story was split into two parts—a decision that opened up a lot of opportunities to further explore the iconic characters and imaginative world Herbert created.
When Dune: Part One was released in 2021, it was a major success. The film earned $402 million at the box office and received positive reviews from both critics and fans for the visuals, the performances, the storytelling, and more. But of course, this was only the first part of the story, and since Dune: Part One’s initial release, people have been clamoring to find out more about Dune: Part Two. The release of the latest Dune: Part Two trailer has only led to more speculation. So, what can we expect from the new Dune movie?
What happened in Dune: Part One?
Dune: Part One first introduced viewers to Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet). Paul is the son of Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac) and Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), and the heir of House Atreides, the aristocratic family that rules over the ocean planet Caladan. But when Leto is assigned control over the desert planet Arrakis, he agrees and moves his family there, even though the planet was previously ruled by House Atreides's enemies, the Harkonnens.
The desert planet Arrakis may seem like a harsh and unforgiving place, but it's also the only place in the universe where melange is naturally sourced. Commonly known as "the spice," melange is coveted for its many and varied uses, from interplanetary travel to living a longer life. But mining for the spice isn't easy. The planet is covered with giant sandworms who will not hesitate to attack anything and anyone they find on their land.
When House Atreides arrives on Arrakis, the Harkonnens are forced to leave, and immediately start plotting the demise of their sworn enemies. House Harkonnen finds a way to sneak into House Atreides and kill Leto. However, Paul and his mother are able to escape.
In the first film, we also learn that Lady Jessica is an acolyte from the order of the Bene Gesserit, a group that uses their spiritual powers to leverage political gain and control. For years, the Bene Gesserit has prophesized the coming of the Kwisatz Haderach, a Messiah with the powers to bring humanity together and build a better future. Lady Jessica was instructed to bear a daughter who would then birth the Kwisatz Haderach, but instead had a son, Paul. Believing that Paul might be the Kwisatz Haderach, she has trained him to hone his spiritual powers for his entire life.
After Paul and Lady Jessica escape, they are captured by the Fremen, the native people of the planet Arrakis, and taken into the Sietch Tabr community. In their community, it is tradition for warriors to challenge each other for control of the the leadership of the Tabr. When he is challenged to a ritual duel to the death, Paul wins, securing his position in the community. Wishing to fulfill his father's goals of bringing peace to the planet, Paul decides to join the Fremen. And Lady Jessica learns that she is pregnant with a daughter.
What can audiences expect in Dune: Part Two?
Of the next installment, director Denis Villeneuve told audiences at CinemaCon: "Part One is more of a contemplative movie. Part Two is an action-packed, epic, war movie. It is much denser. We went to all new locations … I didn’t want a feeling of repetition. It’s all new sets. Everything is new." Of course, we can't be certain how the movie will play out or how faithful it will remain to its source material. But if the screen sequel follows what happens in the book, here's what we can expect from this highly anticipated new film.
If the film follows the timeline of the book, the first thing we should expect is a slight time jump. We predict that Dune: Part Two will open two years after Part One ended, giving Paul more time to come into his role as the leader of the Fremen and gain more powers, setting him up for leading the eventual rebellion against Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV.
If you loved Zendaya as Chani in Part One and were hoping for more, you're in luck. As Paul's clairvoyant visions predicted, Chani will play a key role in the second part of the movie as Paul's love interest. And if the movie follows the books, Chani will eventually bear Paul's son, Leto II. It's also likely that, in Part Two, Lady Jessica will give birth to a daughter, Alia.
You've probably heard that the cast is expanding in other ways as well. Christopher Walken is joining the cast as Shaddam IV, Emperor of the Known Universe. Florence Pugh will play his daughter, Princess Irulan, who will later become Paul's wife. You will also see Souheila Yacoub as Shishakli, the squad leader of Paul's Fedaykin—the Fremen's guerrilla fighters. Léa Seydoux will join the cast of Dune Two as Lady Margot Fenring, Count Hasimir Fenring's Bene Gesserit wife. And Austin Butler will play Paul's rival Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, who, as Villenueve told Empire, will be "a very, very important character in the second part."
If you want more specific details on what might await in Dune: Part Two based on the book, read on—but be warned, major spoilers follow! Here's what we can expect if the movie follows the books:
Baron Harkonnen and the Emperor learn that Paul is the new leader of the Fremen. Both parties plan attacks on Arrakis to stop the Fremen rebellion, and spies are sent to monitor activities on the planet. All of the activity and raids meddle with spice production on the planet.
Having failed to foresee the raids, Paul believes he has to increase his powers by drinking the Water of Life, which is traditionally fatal for males. After drinking the Water of Life, Paul remains unconscious for several weeks, but he awakes as the Kwisatz Haderach, with the ability to see across time and space.
Paul senses the oncoming attack from both the Baron and the Emperor, and so he gathers his Fremen troops to fight against the Harkonnen. When the Emperor arrives on Arrakis, he kills Paul's son, Leto II, and captures Alia. But Alia is able to assassinate the Emperor and escape on her own while Paul and his troops ride on sandworms to fight against the Harkonnen and Sardaukar troops. The Fremen are able to easily defeat the troops, and the Emperor cedes the throne to Paul, also promising his daughter's hand in marriage.
When does Dune: Part Two come out?
Mark your calendars—Dune: Part Two is out in theaters on November 3, 2023. We're excited to see some of our favorite moments from the book play out on the big screen—we're even more excited for all of the surprises in store!
How many Dune books are there?
There are 21 books in the Dune saga to date, with two more on the way. The original books in the series were written by Frank Herbert. When Herbert died in 1986, his son Brian Herbert and acclaimed author Kevin J. Anderson took over writing further books in the series, including several prequels. Following is a breakdown of the Dune books in publication order.
Dune series
Dune is the first book in the original series written by Frank Herbert, about the rise of Paul Atreides on the desert planet Arrakis. The other books written by Herbert are:
Dune Messiah (1969)
Children of Dune (1976)
God Emperor of Dune (1981)
Heretics of Dune (1984)
Chapterhouse: Dune (1985)
Prelude to Dune series
This is a series of prequels set before the events of the first books. It explores the events before Dune, and the origins of some of its characters. These books were written with the help of notes made by Herbert before his death in 1986.
House Atreides (1999)
House Harkonnen (2000)
House Corrino (2001)
Legends of Dune series
This is the second prequel trilogy, set 10,000 years before the events in the original 1965 novel, Dune. These books explore the universal war known as the Butlerian Jihad, fought against sentient machines and robots.
The Butlerian Jihad (2002)
The Machine Crusade (2003)
The Battle of Corrin (2004)
Hunters of Dune (2006)
Sandworms of Dune (2007)
Heroes of Dune series
This duology, originally planned as a quartet, is set between the events of Dune (1965) and Dune Messiah (1969). It takes a deeper dive into Paul's attempts to gain control of the empire.
Paul of Dune (2008)
The Winds of Dune (2009)
This is a sequel trilogy to the Legends of Dune series, set a century after the events of The Battle of Corrin (2004). It details the beginnings of the Bene Gesserit, Mentat, and Suk schools after the Butlerian Jihad, and the growing threats from an anti-technology group.
Sisterhood of Dune (2012)
Mentats of Dune (2014)
Navigators of Dune (2016)
This most recent (and still ongoing) trilogy covers the events leading directly up to the events of Dune (1965).
Dune: The Duke of Caladan (2020)
Dune: The Lady of Caladan (2021)
Dune: The Heir of Caladan (2022)
All of the books in the Dune universe are available for your listening pleasure. The adventure, drama, and excitement of these books have been captured by a range of incredible voice talents, including legendary 17-time Audie Award recipient and Audible Hall of Fame narrator Simon Vance; American actor, writer and award-winning narrator Scott Brick; and the remarkably talented (and sorely missed) late actress Katherine Kellgren.
