Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two continues the story from Dune Part One but raises the stakes by offering a completely new experience for audiences, escalating the scope and scale with even more stunning visuals and huge action sequences, along with new characters, even greater adventures and a truly powerful, moving love story.
Set thousands of years in the future and picking up where Dune left off, Dune Part Two again follows the mythic journey of Paul Atreides, a young man propelled by fate into an intergalactic power struggle. The son of the murdered ruler Duke Leto Atreides and mystical Bene Gesserit Lady Jessica, Paul was given the ultimate test in Dune: to conquer his fears when fate—and powerful unseen forces—pull him into the sands of the remote planet Arrakis.
The son of a Duke born into a destiny greater than his royal title, Paul is now fully entrenched in the epic adventure that has taken him across the galaxy to the barren and inhospitable Planet Arrakis, where even greater danger awaits at every turn. With his father dead, his mother on a journey of her own and Chani by his side, Paul must earn the respect of the skeptical local population, the Fremen, face his fears and, ultimately, face his most brutal enemies, in order to defend Arrakis and exact revenge upon the people who destroyed his family.
Exploring themes both timeless and timely, from romantic love and maternal love to globalism, loyalty, revenge and catharsis, Dune: Part Two furthers author Frank Herbert’s ecological themes in this tale about humanity versus nature. At the core of the action is a timeless conflict between the forces of good and evil. On one side are the Fremen, a representation of humanity fighting for the collective survival of the native people and of planet Arrakis.
On the other side lie the Harkonnen, a manifestation of corruption, violence and greed. Where they meet is the conflicted story of Paul Atreides, leaning into Chani’s fierceness and Stilgar’s wisdom to gain the trust and support of the Fremen people, while the Harkonnens continue to ravage the sands of Arrakis for spice—though their efforts do not go unopposed, further enraging them and leading to an all-out war.
Chani is no longer simply a mysterious vision that visits Paul’s dreams, but a fierce ally fighting alongside him. Though she understands Paul’s drive for vengeance, she is ultimately driven by a higher calling to defend her people and their way of life. With Paul now living among the Fremen, their relationship deepens into a profound love and mutual respect that helps guide Paul to a greater understanding of the people and the planet, a crucial part of his journey to becoming the leader he was born to be.
The immersive, dynamic exploration of this spectacular universe continues, with its champions and its plunderers, while also expanding on the theme of female empowerment begun in Dune. Joining passionate Fremen warrior Chani, Lady Jessica and the holy Reverend Mother Mohiam from the first film are Princess Irulan, daughter of the Emperor, and Lady Fenring, an enigmatic Bene Gesserit whose interests appear to lie with the Harkonnen and the Baron’s bloodthirsty nephew, Feyd-Rautha.
Feline, muscular and with the full-body alopecia typical of the Harkonnens, Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen’s intelligence is matched by his cruelty, and he employs both in combat, making him a truly formidable foe to anyone that crosses his path. It just may be that Baron Harkonnen has bigger plans for this bloodthirsty nephew with a twisted sense of honor and a passion for pain—others’ as well as his own. Feyd’s skills will be put to the test outside of his gladiators’ practice ring when he is sent to battle an unexpected enemy.
Lady Jessica must now begin her own spiritual and physical journey amidst the people of Dune. Drawing on every ounce of her strength, she takes on the mantle of Reverend Mother while awaiting the birth of a new child…one with whom she has already forged a deep connection.
To take audiences deep into the Fremen world, further into the Baron’s realm on Giedi Prime, and introduce the Emperor and his world—bringing the previously unseen ruler out of the shadows for the first time—the cast and crew returned to the vast sands of Abu Dhabi, to Jordan and to Budapest, and took the production for the first time to Italy.
In Dune Part Two audiences have never seen the entire world laid out like this: exploring new parts of Arrakis. Part Two travels to the world of the Fremen, the world of the Emperor and Giedi Prime on levels never seen before. Denis created unbelievable battle sequences with new ornithopters, and new weaponry. And we’ve never seen battle with sandworms before, but now we can. And on top of the craft, it’s very unique and it’s very special, the way that everybody gets along and respects one another, and I think also inspires each other to do their best work.
To celebrate the release of Dune Part Two, The Koalition sat down to have a spoiler discussion to break down all of the themes and characters from this movie, asking if Dune Part Two is worth the hype.
Check out our review in the video above.
