Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve teases some of the major differences audiences will experience in his upcoming sequel, including the amount of action and the film’s changed visuals. Serving as a sequel to his 2021 epic, Dune: Part Two will continue the story of Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides after the devastating attack on his family in the previous movie. The sequel will introduce a host of new characters and is set to further explore Atreides’ journey with the Fremen.
Ahead of Dune: Part Two‘s release date later this year, Warner Bros. showed the film’s first trailer at CinemaCon 2023, of which Screen Rant was in attendance, with accompanying comments from Villeneuve. During his segment on stage, the director said the sequel is “more action-packed, epic war movie, much more bulk, much more dance.” In addition to its increase in action, Villeneuve also hyped some big changes in terms of the film’s visual language, including new sets and designs. What’s more, Dune: Part Two was filmed entirely in IMAX, compared to only 40% in the first movie.
Dune: Part Two’s Major Changes Explained
The first Dune featured a hefty amount of action, especially during House Harkonnen’s attack on House Atreides on Arrakis. The movie featured more intimate fight scenes, such as Paul’s knife battle against the Fremen tribe member, but also more epic scenes as the two houses collided. Dune: Part Two is set to take this to the next level, with Paul now on a warpath against House Harkonnen for the attack on his family, setting him on a collision course with a dangerous new enemy in the form of Austin Butler’s Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen.
In addition to Paul’s upcoming war against House Harkonnen, Dune: Part Two will also further explore the Fremen and Chalamet’s new position with them. Dune‘s ending sees Paul fully adopted into a Fremen tribe, setting off across the desert with Zendaya’s Chani, who is confirmed to have more screen time in the sequel. On their journey, it seems like more of Arrakis will be explored, including new Fremen communities, which could be where the new sets that Villeneuve described come into play.
While Dune sets the stage and establishes the dangers and beauty of Arrakis, Dune: Part Two will seemingly further explore the planet and all that it has to offer. The visuals in the first Dune were a major highlight, making Villeneuve’s comment about the increase in IMAX footage especially exciting. While many questions remain about Dune: Part Two, the film is already shaping up to be a truly epic affair, potentially even exceeding the first film in many ways.
Source: Warner Bros.