‘Dune Part 2’: Denis Villeneuve Plans to Shift Perspective in the ‘More Challenging’ Sequel
Dune is one of the most difficult pieces of sci-fi source material to adapt into a movie. However, filmmaker Denis Villeneuve successfully adapted it for many critics and audiences around the world. Warner Bros. gave him the green light to go ahead and make the sequel. Villeneuve has some pivotal Dune Part 2 updates regarding its status in production and its “more challenging” nature.
‘Dune Part 2’ is moving along
Dune left critics and audiences dying for more stories from Arrakis and its characters. Empire spoke with Villeneuve regarding any updates regarding the film’s current status. He has a filming window in mind and explains that he’s working with the same team that worked on the first Dune.
“We are supposed to shoot by the end of the summer,” Villeneuve said. “I will say it is mostly designed. The thing that helps us right now is that it’s the first time I’ve revisited a universe. So I’m working with the same crew, everybody knows what to do, we know what it will look like.”
Villeneuve continued: “The movie will be more challenging, but we know where we are stepping. And the screenplay is written. So I feel confident. Frankly, the only big unknown for me right now is the pandemic.”
Denis Villeneuve plans to shift focus away from Paul Atreides for ‘Dune Part 2’
Villeneuve is making a Dune Part 2 as a way to dig deeper into the characters and the world they live in. However, he explained to Empire that he had to make some fairly tough decisions. For example, he ditched Gurney Halleck’s baliset in the film’s first installment.
“When you adapt, you have to make bold choices in order for the things to come to life,” Villeneuve said. “And I think that was the best way to introduce this world to a wide audience. Now in the second one, I want to have more flexibility, and it will be possible to go a little bit deeper into some of these details.”
Villeneuve plans to introduce new characters, such as Feyd-Rautha. He expects to shift the focus to other characters, so the story won’t remain exclusively on Paul Atreides. The supporting characters will have more time in the spotlight this time around.
“It’s like a chess game,” Villeneuve said. “Some new characters will be introduced in the second part and a decision I made very early on was that this first part would be more about Paul Atreides and the Bene Gesserit, and his experience of being in contact for the first time with a different culture. Second part, there will be much more Harkonnen stuff.”
It sounds like Villeneuve is giving Dune Part 2 a whole lot more of the Great House that caused so much destruction in the first installment.
‘Dune’ is getting a plethora of love from awards shows
Dune dominated the film conversation earlier in the 2021 awards season. Some critics and audiences adored the film’s grand scale and beauty, although others found it to lack character and substance. Nevertheless, Villeneuve’s Dune is seeing plenty of love at awards shows.
Dune has a staggering 10 Oscar nominations and 11 BAFTA nods. However, many awards analysts question the Academy’s decision to exclude Villeneuve from the Best Director category. Nevertheless, it’s possible that Villeneuve could get that nomination when Dune Part 2 comes along.
