Denis Villeneuve's passion project, based upon the sci-fi novel series of the same name, Dune, has opened to great success and constant praise over its visuals, music by Hans Zimmer, and the set-up for the inevitable sequel. It has also been praised for its acting performances from a star-studded cast including Zendaya, Timothee Chalamet, Oscar Isaac, and Jason Momoa, amongst Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin and many more, by critics and fans alike, who seemed to have been waiting a lifetime for this movie, especially after the film was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film ultimately opened in theaters and became one of the highest-grossing movies of the previous year, in an era where the world was still recovering from an ongoing pandemic, and struggles to adjust to the new 'normal.'
The film was also a critical success, gathering ten Oscar nominations, before having a plethora of casting rumors associated, involving Florence Pugh and Austin Butler to star in uncast parts for the confirmed sequel, Dune: Part Two. Oscar-Nominated producer, Mary Parent has already revealed the film is eyeing a fall shoot, returning to Jordan, where all the desert scenes of Part One were filmed. Villeneuve gave eager fans an update on the film, as he promises work is underway full speed ahead for the movie, which looks to build upon the success of its predecessor, Dune: Part One.
At the PGA Awards, where Villeneuve himself was up for the coveted Best Director trophy, the critically acclaimed director revealed updates on the story and visuals of Dune: Part Two.
“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, per Deadline. “It’s Paul’s journey against the enemy.”
He also promised a return to the sand and more sandworms. To fan delight, the filmmaker also promised that the upcoming film would be more cinematic, which bodes well to its future, as it looks like Dune: Part Two is building upon the best of Dune: Part One.
Dune: Part Two Will Feature More of Zendaya's Chani
Shortly after its release, one of the greatest criticisms with Dune: Part One was its excessive focus on setting up the sequel. The diverse world of the internet found a variety of opinions, with some loving it for its visuals and iconic score, and some criticizing it for its mission of merely setting up the next part, as some felt that it failed to stand as a movie of its own due to focusing too much on the next part. Villeneuve also promised a greater role for Zendaya's Chani, who only received a limited screen time in the first part.
Fans are expecting the next part to be bolder, more epic, and if the rumors are to be believed, to have a larger cast, with even more A-list celebrities, including the fan-favorite Florence Pugh, and the upcoming Elvis biopic actor, Austin Butler. With Denis Villeneuve at the helm, stunning visuals, a gripping story, and a memorable cinematic experience can be expected, and if Dune: Part One is something to go on, fans are in store for another Villeneuve masterclass.