Denis Villeneuve’s Dune was built on the assumption that we’d get to see more of it. From the briefest glimpses we get of intriguing characters (Zendaya’s Chani; Charlotte Rampling’s Gaius Helen Mohiam) to the rumblings of gigantic plot threads — including intergalactic political intrigue, murder and the emergence of a long-prophesied messiah — left hanging… we’d feel pretty short changed if we didn’t get a Dune: Part Two.
Now, after delays and teasers, we’re getting more and more insight into the Dune: Part Two universe, with a new trailer dropping on 12 December.
Still, we have around four months to kill until we can see it. Here’s everything we know so far about Dune: Part Two, the (admittedly more hypothetical) Dune: Part Three and Dune: The Sisterhood TV series.
What will Dune: Part Two cover?
To summarise, the first part of Denis Villeneuve’s expansive, contemplative sci-fi epic spends most of its 155-minute run time building bigger and bigger and bigger until it slightly subverts itself. Ending not with an epic battle on the planet Arrakis between Duke Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and the villainous House Harkonnen (lead by an increasingly slug-like Stellan Skårsgard), but instead focusing on Paul’s decision to join the native Fremen tribe (lead by Javier Bardem and featuring Zendaya as the mysterious Chani) and disappear (literally) beneath the dunes.
Roughly, Dune: Part Two should cover the second half of Frank Herbert’s Dune novel — where Paul joins the Fremen and plots the downfall of House Harkonnen, while reckoning with his own identity as the Kwisatz Haderach, a messiah-like figure who will be tasked with leading the future of humanity.
“It’s the journey where Paul Atreides and his mother, Lady Jessica, make contact with the Fremen culture and meet with the Fremen,” the filmmaker teased to Deadline at the PAG Awards. “It’s Paul’s journey against the enemy… It’s a movie that will be more cinematic.”
Will we finally get to see more of Zendaya?
In a nutshell; yes. Zendaya’s screentime in the first film is a little misleading given her dominance in its marketing, but makes sense given the (very large) role Chani will play in the sequel and in Paul’s life in general.
We know this for certain, because director Denis himself promised that if we did get a sequel, Zendaya will be a major part of it.
Who joins the cast of Dune: Part Two?
Léa Seydoux — who recently starred in the gross-out David Cronenberg body horror Crimes of the Future — will be stepping into the role of Lady Margot in the second part of the Dune franchise. Lady Margot is part of the Bene Gesserit, a secret religious order of female witches we were introduced to in the first movie.
Elvis star Austin Butler also confirmed to The New York Times that he will play the villainous, sadistic nephew of Baron Harkonnen Feyd-Rautha (memorably played by Sting and his codpiece in David Lynch’s Dune), and that he has “started intensive knife-fighting training” for the role specifically.
Timmy’s Little Women co-star Florence Pugh will play Princess Irulan, the Emperor’s daughter. Although seemingly a minor role, only appearing towards the end of the Dune novel, Denis may have adapted the script to make her character more significant here.
Additionally Princess Irulan’s father, the mysterious Imperial Empire Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV, will be played by Christopher Walken (Pulp Fiction). His political machinations were hinted at many times in the first film. (Fun fact: in Alejandro Jodorowsky’s ill-fated attempt to make the first Dune film in the 70s, he wanted Salvador Dalí to play the Emperor).
What’s the deal with Dune: The Sisterhood?
Originally supposed to be helmed by Denis V himself (he stepped down due to scheduling conflicts with Dune: Part 2), a HBO Max mini series titled Dune: The Sisterhood is officially in the works. Chernobyl director Johan Renck is set to replace Denis as director for at least the show’s first episode, while Diane Ademu-John (The Haunting of Bly Manor) will act as showrunner.
Set 10,000 years before the first movie, the TV series will explore the origins of the witchy cult of the Bene Gesserit, and the two sisters who founded it: Valya and Tula Harkonnen. Valya will be played by Emily Watson, most recently seen in Chernobyl and the A24 Paul Mescal-starring drama God’s Creatures. The character of Tula will be played by Shirley Henderson, the Scottish actor known for Trainspotting and playing Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter films.
No other cast members have been announced yet, nor does the series have a solid release date.
What would Dune: Part Three cover?
Denis V himself has said that a third Dune movie is likely to be green-lit. In an interview with Screen Daily, the filmmaker expressed confidence in another sequel based on Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah. “I think Dune Messiah would be a beautiful film,” he told writer Dan Jolin. “And it would complete Paul Atreides’ journey. But I’m going one movie at a time. It’s so difficult, and I’m a bit lazy! But I think three movies is a possibility.”
Frank Herbert’s original Dune series comprises of six whole novels, and countless other prequels, spin-offs and continuations have spawned following the author’s death in 1986.
Denis V has said previously that he had always envisioned a two-part Dune duology based on the first book, and then a sequel based on the book’s own sequel, Dune Messiah. After his comments to Screen Daily, we’re even more confident in this eventuality.
Dune: Messiah takes place 12 years after the events of the original Dune novel, following Paul as he struggles against the threat of an unstoppable religious juggernaut. I mean, we’re here for it!
According to Denis, a working script has now been written. “The screenplay is finished mostly, but it’s always a work in progress. It’ll be a work in progress until final cut, but I will say it’s solidified. I have a script in my hands. We are in prep right now,” he told Collider. Hans Zimmer has also been crafting a whole new soundtrack for the sequel. “It’s going to be another beautiful journey in the desert again,” Denis confirmed.
Is there a trailer for Dune: Part Two?
Yes! The most recent trailer is below.
Why was Dune: Part Two delayed because of the SAG-AFTRA strike?
It all boils into star power: with Zendaya and Timothée leading the picture, they were banned from promoting the film until SAG-AFTRA had signed a deal.
When is Dune: Part Two released?
Dune: Part Two was set to hit cinemas on 15 March 2024, but now it’s been moved up to 1 March 2024. Some industry figures think the film may open the Berlin Film Festival.
This story has been updated with new details and republished.