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This article was originally published on February 29, 2024.
As of May 21, 2024,Dune: Part Twoisstreaming on Max.
Warning: Major spoilers ahead for the ending ofDune: Part Two.
By splitting Frank HerbertsDuneinto two parts, Denis Villeneuve pulled a bait and switch with audience expectations.
Paul embraces his destiny as the figurehead of a holy war, foreshadowing a catastrophic rise to power.
It doesnt hurt that he quickly falls in love with a Fremen warrior, Chani (Zendaya).
At first, Paul is primarily motivated by a desire for revenge.
But Pauls mother Jessica (a steely-eyed Rebecca Ferguson) has more ambitious plans in mind.
Meanwhile, Paul keeps exhibiting suspiciously messianic traits.
Its a hair-raising performance from Chalamet.
The other Great Houses i.e.,Dunes feudal overlords are less impressed, rejecting Pauls claim out of hand.
So Paul endsPart Twoon a terrifying note, commanding his followers to send them to paradise.
Disturbed by her boyfriends tumultuous victory and impromptu royal betrothal, Chani flees into the desert alone.
What We Know AboutDune: Part Three
This section includes major spoilers forDune: Messiah.
Villeneuve envisioned hisDuneadaptation as a trilogy, withPart Threecovering the events ofDune: Messiah, Herberts secondDunenovel.
He confirmed recently that the script is almost finished, althoughPart Threes existence depends onPart Twos box-office success.
It may also be a while before filming begins.
After making twoDunemovies back-to-back, Villeneuve expressed a desire to take a break from Arrakis.
Fortunately, this fits the 12-year gap between the events ofDuneandDune: Messiah.
Chalamet, Zendaya, and Pugh arent in danger of aging out of their roles.
Messiahreintroduces Paul as the emperor, caught in a convoluted web of political intrigue.
If anything, adaptingDune: Messiahis an even more daunting task than the first two films.
Alias absence fromPart Twois actually a significant departure from book canon.
In the book, however, Paul and Jessica spend years rather than months in the deserts of Arrakis.
Alia is born and raised among the Fremen.
In fact, shes the one who kills Baron Harkonnen in the original story.
It made sense for Villeneuve to edit Alia out ofPart Twobecause the film is already pretty long.
But you could argue this is a feature, not a bug.
This kind of thing is the lifeblood of pulp science fiction.
In Chanis case, this is because Irulan is secretly feeding her contraceptive drugs.
For Irulan, theres a more straightforward explanation: Paul refuses to sleep with her.
you’re free to understand why Villeneuve wants to wrap things up withMessiah.
yet another clone of Duncan Idaho.
If someone does keep adapting these novels, Jason Momoa will never be out of work.
A fitting tribute to Frank Herberts vision.
