“Power over spice is power over all”
Dune: Part Two is filmmaker Denis Villeneuve’s most ambitious work thus far. Villeneuve proved he could capture the visual scale and magnitude of Frank Herbert’s classic Dune novel with the first film, but that was only half of an adaptation. The second part of this tale was always going to determine how much of Herbert’s original themes were going to stay intact in favor of creating a more accessible story. Somehow, Villeneuve has pulled off what seemed like an impossible task: staying true to the source material in the most unmistakable way while under the guise of a tentpole blockbuster. Dune: Part Two may feature a jam-packed ensemble cast of Hollywood’s hottest stars and breathtaking spectacle, but it is so bleak and harrowing at the same time that it feels like an “anti-blockbuster.” Fans of the book will even be shocked to see how far Villeneuve goes.
The sequel quickly introduces us to Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh), a soon-to-be key player in Paul Atreides’ (Timothée Chalamet) return to power over the desert planet of Arrakis. Similar to how Chani (Zendaya) opens the first movie with narration that gives us her perspective on the oppression of her Fremen people, Irulan’s opening narration shows us the perspective of the ultimate oppressor — her father the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken). With the Fremen growing stronger in the time that the Harkonens have resumed spice production on Arrakis, under the watch of Glossu Rabban Harkonnen (Dave Bautista), they both sense that a powerful uprising is imminent. But there are greater powers at play, including the Bene Gesserit whom Irulan is a disciple of. Whispers of the arrival of the “Lisan al Gaib” strike fear into the Emperor, forcing all parties into planning their next sinister moves.
As we catch up with Paul and his mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) now learning how to survive with the Fremen in exile, the young Duke of House Atreides rejects his given destiny as the Lisan al Gaib. Many around Paul, such as tribe leader Stilgar (Javier Bardem), see the signs in Paul’s journey as divine fate. The Bene Gesserit have spread their manufactured prophecy to numerous Fremen tribes across the planet, though many still shiver at the sight of Paul for being an outsider. Lady Jessica plans to utilize this fear to play out the prophecy as planned, which includes her rising to the ranks as the Fremen’s new Reverend Mother. Paul refuses this path, firmly believing that the Fremen should be liberated by one of their own. He commits himself at first to fighting side by side with the Fremen, bringing him closer to Chani in the process.
Stilgar takes Paul under his wing, teaching him the ways of the desert which includes how to ride the mighty sandworm. As he learns from this new mentor and a curious Chani, his visions of the future grow stronger. Paul sees a “Holy War” on the horizon, and he’s convinced that he must prevent it at all costs. Chani eventually falls in love with this version of Paul, an outsider who is only trying to do his best to help liberate her people without seizing control over them. Meanwhile, Lady Jessica is getting deeper into her pregnancy with whom Paul foresees as his future sister. She uses this yet-to-be-born daughter to her advantage, using her pregnancy to further sway Paul into accepting the prophecy. Paul is ultimately caught between his romance with Chani and his pre-determined destiny, making his character arc tragic and, frankly, horrifying to see slowly unfold.
While Dune: Part Two features moments of much-needed levity, particularly between Paul and Chani as their romance blooms in the first half, it is much darker than your typical Hollywood blockbuster. From previous films like Prisoners, Arrival, and of course, Blade Runner 2049, director Denis Villeneuve has always tackled heavy and even sensitive material with nuance. That still rings true in this case, however, Villeneuve makes it overtly clear that Paul’s arc is a cautionary tale that is not to be misinterpreted. It’s a story that has been and continues to be dangerously reflected in the real world. Coming off his chilling performance in Bones and All and whimsical venture in Wonka, Timothée Chalamet gives the most commanding performance of his career here. His transition from Paul Atredies into Paul Muad’dib Usul — the all-seeing messiah of the Fremen — brings out a powerful gravitas never seen in Chalamet before.
Zendaya, on the other hand, is the true MVP of this sequel. After being teased throughout the entirety of the first film only to finally appear at the end, Denis Villeneuve and co-writer Jon Spaihts give Chani far more individual agency in this adaptation. Though her role in the plot is essentially the same as the book, her relationship with Paul proves to be more complex than what some are expecting. She’s a Fremen warrior and survivor above all else, and she won’t let her love of Paul skew her views on oppression. Zendaya, just like her leading co-star, elegantly shows why she’s one of the few young, definitive movie stars of today. In fact, Dune: Part Two wouldn’t get its thematic point across as well as it does without Zendaya’s fresh interpretation of Chani. This alone sets Villeneuve’s adaptation apart from the many that have come before.
And then there’s Austin Butler, known for Elvis and Masters of the Air, whose take on Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen can only be described as a sadistic animal. The sick and twisted Feyd doesn’t enter the narrative until roughly halfway through, being sent to Arrakis by his uncle Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård) to help wipe out the Fremen uprising. Though he comes in late, Feyd is given the most epic and frightening introduction in the gladiator pits on the Harkonnen home planet, Giedi Prime. When finally pitted against Chalamet’s Paul Muad’dib, the two simply electrify the screen together. Butler truly elevates Dune: Part Two to another level thanks to his magnetic presence, however, it may be Rebecca Ferguson who gives the most villainous performance. Ferguson commits to making your blood boil as Lady Jessica corrupts her own son, leaving no question as to who the most vile character is.
The returning cast from Dune: Part One, like Dave Bautista and Stellan Skarsgård, are all given more time to shine, but Josh Brolin leaves the strongest impression as Gurney Halleck. The former military leader of House Atredies plays an influential role in Paul’s takeover of Arrakis, one that also carries a tragic underlining. Florence Pugh is the standout from the newcomers, even with limited screen time she manages to establish Princess Irulan as a force to be reckoned with in this universe. The great Christopher Walken makes the most of his few scenes, but you’re left wanting slightly more considering how fantastic he is as the Emporer. Léa Seydoux has a glorified cameo as Lady Margot Fenring, another Bene Gesserit witch in training, albeit it does feel like her role is setting something up for another sequel. Nonetheless, a bit more time with the supporting cast is needed.
To no surprise, Dune: Part Two is cinematographer Greig Fraser’s finest work yet. When paired with Hans Zimmer’s surprisingly subversive score, you’re left with grand, highly imaginative spectacle that cannot be found anywhere else. But unlike the first movie, the awe-inspiring visuals on screen carry with them an unshakable horror. Witnessing legions of Fremen soldiers riding into battle on top of giant sandworms is not only incredible but also terrifying given the context of the story. This is merely the beginning of Paul’s galactic jihad, and despite how glorious it may look or feel you cannot help but tremble as the devasting implications of this “Holy War” sink in. The battle sequences in Dune: Part Two don’t offer as much escapism as they strike shocking amounts of fear and regret into the viewer, just like Arrakis’ new oppressors do to the Fremen in the film.
It almost feels like a miracle that Denis Villeneuve got to make a Dune adaptation this bold and daring in the current studio system. The dangers and complexities of blind faith are on full display, leaving no character with clean morals. It should be interesting to see how general audiences respond to such an audacious sci-fi epic. Avoiding all spoilers, the movie’s ending all but guarantees that an adaptation of Frank Herbert’s second book, Dune Messiah, will be soon green-lit by Warner Bros. Now, how fast that news comes depends on the box office success of this sequel. The most exciting part of it all is that Villeneuve leaves enough room for a third film to take even more fresh creative liberties. We could very well be on the verge of witnessing the next greatest sci-fi trilogy.
Release Date: March 1, 2024
Directed by Denis Villeneuve.
Screenplay by Denis Villeneuve & Jon Spaihts.
Based on Dune by Frank Herbert.
Produced by Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Denis Villeneuve, Tanya Lapointe, & Patrick McCormick.
Main Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux, Souheila Yacoub, Stellan Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling, & Javier Bardem.
Cinematographer: Greig Fraser.
Composer: Hans Zimmer.
Production Companies: Legendary Pictures, Villeneuve Films, & Disruption Entertainment.
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures.
Runtime: 165 minutes.
Rated: PG-13.