Anya Taylor-Joy Has A Surprise Role In Dune 2

One of the most visually stunning film adaptations is back. Ever since Dune premiered in October 2021, fans have waited with bated breath to see if a second part is in store. That intrigue only increased once the film became available on streaming platforms. Now, over two years since its original release and after a few delays, Dune fans will get to return to the desert sooner than later.

Dune: Part Two will now release on Mar. 1, 2024. Here’s everything to know about the upcoming sequel so far.

Warning: Spoilers for Dune follow. Dune ends with a super abrupt final scene. Duke Leto is dead, House Atreides has fallen, and Paul and Lady Jessica have taken refuge with the Fremen as House Harkonnen retakes control of the spice trade. To earn their place in the Fremen’s hold, Paul finds himself facing down an opponent he didn’t expect: Jamis.

In Paul’s visions, Jamis always led him into the desert and showed him the way. But the reality of how that happens turns out to be Jamis’ life sacrificed, with Paul taking his life as the first step from being Paul Atreides to becoming the Messiah of Fremen legend, the Lisan al-Gaib. In a sense, Jamis was leading him to the path into the desert, just not how Paul expected him to.

For those who have read the novel, this ending is the halfway point of the story. Paul’s continuing journey toward becoming Muad’Dib and the birth of his sister (who Lady Jessica is currently carrying) are major plot points the first film never gets to. That’s where Dune: Part Two comes in.

The Premiere Was Moved Up

Dune: Part Two will now hit the big screen on Mar. 1, 2024. This date was quite the lucky chance, as Ryan Gosling’s The Fall was originally set to premiere that day. However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Universal Studios moved the date to Mar. 3 for unknown reasons.

That gave room for Dune: Part Two, which had already been delayed from Oct. 20 to Nov. 17 of this year, to shine. Unlike Part One, it will be a theatrical-only release.

There Are Some Major New Cast Members

Timothée Chalamet will headline as leading figure Paul Atreides in the second film. Zendaya will return as his love interest, Chani, and Rebecca Ferguson as his mother, Lady Jessica.

They’re not the only returning cast members. Javier Bardem will also be back as Stilgar (the leader of the Fremen), and Josh Brolin will continue flexing his role as Gurney Halleck, one of the few remaining House Atreides loyalists. On the other side, House Harkonnen’s leading figure Baron Vladimir (played by Stellan Skarsgård) and his nephew Glossu Rabban (Dave Bautista) will be back on board. Also, Charlotte Rampling will reprise her character as Gaius Helen Mohiam, the Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother.

As for the new faces, the first major announcement came in March 2022, as Florence Pugh was cast as Princess Irulan, and Austin Butler was slated to play Harkonnen heir Feyd-Rautha.

In an interview with Backstage, Bulter talked about the experience filming Dune and his approach in taking on a villain role. “You have to not judge the character and find a way to really feel the motivation towards any one of your actions,” he said. “We had a lot of conversations and crafted that together. Denis [Villeneuve, the director] is so thoughtful, and he doesn’t miss anything. His attention to detail is really remarkable.”

In May 2022, Christopher Walken was confirmed to play the Emporer himself, Shaddam IV. Just as filming began, Léa Seydoux was confirmed for Lady Margot and Souheila Yacoub as Shishakli.

The movie saved its biggest casting reveal for last. Anya Taylor-Joy surprised everyone by showing up at the film’s premiere in London on Feb. 15, dressed perfectly on theme in etherial white cloth that covered her whole body expect her hands and face. As she made her appearance, it was confirmed that Taylor-Joy does indeed have a part in the movie.

The Story Will Be Epic

Dune may only clock in at 412 pages, but it’s a dense book. There’s an entire set of plots dedicated to intergalactic trade and another set concerning intra-house rivalries. And that’s not even getting into Paul’s transformation into a messianic figure, the Fremen uprising, or how the Bene Gesserit have been planning this as a long con for a couple of thousand years, with an entire breeding-and-concubine program dedicated to it.

This is a major reason Dune has never been made into a successful film or TV series before this point — because there is just so much to unpack. (The 1984 David Lynch film was partly a failure because Lynch attempted to pack all of this in in a single run, and the production studio butchered it to create a film that wasn’t six hours long.) Villeneuve knew all this going in and has been upfront about his desire to make a two-part film or maybe even a trilogy. In an interview with CBC’s Radio Canada, Villeneuve said he wants to go beyond the first book also to adapt Frank Herbert’s first sequel, Dune Messiah: “[It] could make an extraordinary film. I always saw that there could be a trilogy; after that, we’ll see. It’s years of work; I can’t think of going further than that.”

Here’s the official synopsis for Dune: Part Two:

This follow-up film 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 Trailers Are A Visual Feast

The first trailer for Dune: Part Two released on May 3, with a second one following a month later. Both minutes-long videos offered a lot of striking moments, including quotes and scene locations that tease where the film’s plot may go.

The final trailer was the biggest of all. Releasing on Dec. 12, the three-minute video provided a sweeping look at the upcoming epic, including the first glimpse at Austin Butler as the villainous Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen.

Dune: Part Two’s takeover is officially on the horizon, as the sequel prepares to storm the big screen on March 1.