Dune: Part Two will see the return of Timothée Chalamet in his leading role of Paul Atreides. Once again, joining Chalamet are Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Charlotte Rampling, and Stephen McKinley Henderson. The cast also features new additions, including Elvis star Austin Butler as Feyd Rautha, Christopher Walken as the Emperor, Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, and Léa Seydoux as Lady Margot, among others.
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The official Twitter account for the film —which arrives in theaters in November 2023— announced the beginning of production by sharing a set photo of a clapperboard. “We’re rolling. Production on Dune: Part Two has begun. #DuneMovie”, read the caption. Per Variety, Dune 2 is currently shooting in Budapest, Abu Dhabi, Jordan, and Italy. According to an official synopsis by Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Entertainment, the sequel will “explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.”
The first installment in the Dune franchise was released theatrically and on HBO Max in October 2021. The movie earned commercial success, grossing $108 million domestically and $401 million worldwide. It also received critical acclaim, landing ten nominations at the Academy Awards— including best picture. Dune ultimately won six Oscars: score, sound, editing, cinematography, production design, and visual effects.
Earlier this month, Javier Bardem —who plays the Fremen leader Stilgar— teased what fans can expect from the forthcoming Dune sequel, sharing that they will be surprised by how the story is pieced together. “I was very moved by it. It’s a movie that is full, and you can feel the weight of it, and at the same time [you can enjoy] the spectacularity of it,” he added.
In addition to the sequel, a spin-off series focusing on the Bene Gesserit is in the early stages of development. The series, titled Dune: Sisterhood, will premiere on HBO Max and Chernobyl director Johan Renck will helm the first two episodes. These two highly-anticipated projects show that the Dune universe is only getting started.
Dune: Part Two debuts in theaters on November 17, 2023.
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Source: Variety, Dune/Twitter
