Part Two Is ‘More of an Action Film’ Than Its Predecessor, Denis Villeneuve Declares

Summary

• Dune: Part Two will be a more action-packed film compared to its predecessor, focusing on Paul Atreides’ revenge and his mythic journey.
• Director Denis Villeneuve has chosen to shoot the entire film with IMAX cameras to capture the intensity of the action and giant sandworm-riding scenes.
• The sequel will feature a larger role for Zendaya’s character, Chani, and introduce Austin Butler as the terrifying Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen.

Director Denis Villeneuve has described his upcoming sci-fi epic sequel Dune: Part Two as much “more of an action film” when compared to its Academy Award-winning predecessor. While 2021’s Dune covered around half of the seminal novel by Frank Herbert, Dune: Part Two will cover the second half, bringing in Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, the bitter rival to Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides. Which is likely just one of the elements that will result in a far more action-packed sequel.

“The first movie was more meditative and contemplative. We were following a young man discovering a new planet, a new culture. The second movie… it’s more of an action film than the first part. It’s more muscular.”

Speaking with Total Film, Villeneuve revealed that the only way to properly capture all this action, which will of course also include giant sandworm-riding, was to shoot 100% of Dune: Part Two with IMAX cameras.

“It was, by far, one of the most technically complex scenes I have done in my life.”

Dune: Part Two 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.

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Timothée Chalamet Teases a ‘Beautiful Story’ Between Paul & Chani in Dune: Part Two

Dune: Part Two

Release Date March 1, 2024

Director Denis Villeneuve

Cast Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya Coleman, Stellan Skarsgård

Writers Frank Herbert, Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve

Not only will Dune: Part Two up the action, it will also involve a much bigger role for Zendaya as the young Fremen warrior, Chani. During a recent appearance at CCXP, Timothée Chalamet teased the growing relationship between Paul and Chani, calling it “beautiful.”

“Me and Z hit it off right away on the first one. She said she was only there for about a week, this time, we get the full Chani effect in the movie. We get the beautiful story between Paul and Chani, we get more sandworms. It’s an epic adventure, I think you guys are all gonna love it.”

Alongside the increased role for Zendaya, Dune: Part Two marks the introduction of Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen. And, according to returning Dune star Dave Bautista, Butler cuts a terrifying figure.

“He’s just the sweetest guy you’ll ever meet. I don’t know who this guy was, but it’s not Austin Butler. It’s not Elvis. His voice is different, his look is different. Everything about his demeanor is terrifying.”

Directed by Denis Villeneuve, who has co-written the screenplay with Jon Spaihts, Dune: Part Two sees several principal cast members from the first outing return including Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgård, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Charlotte Rampling, and Javier Bardem.

The sequel will add even more big names to the already stacked cast list, including Florence Pugh (Black Widow, Little Women) as Princess Irulan; Christopher Walken (The Deer Hunter, Hairspray) as Shaddam IV, the Emperor and head of House Corrino; Léa Seydoux (the James Bond franchise) as Bene Gesserit Lady Margot, Austin Butler (Elvis, Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood) as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, Souheila Yacoub (Rise) as Fremen warrior Shishakli, and Tim Blake Nelson (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Captain America: Brave New World) who has been cast in an undisclosed role.

Dune: Part Two is set to be released on March 1, 2024, by Warner Bros. Pictures. Check out the trailer below:

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