Legendary’s Dune might have been crimped by a theatrical day-and-date release on HBO Max due to Covid, but the sequel the 2021 Denis Villeneuve feature is apt to be on fire this fall in an exclusive big-screen release.
Dune: Part Two, also based on Frank Herbert’s novel, created a sandstorm here at CinemaCon in Las Vegas during Warner Bros presentation with Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet and the filmmaker onstage.
The first movie, though in theaters and HBO Max, was one of Warners’ highest-grossing pics that year, making $108.3M domestic and $402M worldwide. It won six Oscars and notched a Best Picture nomination.
RELATED: CinemaCon 2023 – Deadline’s Full Coverage
Unlike the 1984 David Lynch-directed version of the 896-page Herbert novel, which squished everything in, Villeneuve is giving the IP its proper breadth in a sequel. Chalamet returns as Paul Atreides along with his mom, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson). Villeneuve says the duo have to prove their trust to the desert tribe, the Fremen.
“She’s not just in dreams this time,” Zendaya said about her character Chani, one of the Fremen people. “I only got a small time to find out who she was [in Part One]. … These are still two young people who are trying to grow up, fall in love and leave, being a warrior for your people.”
RELATED: CinemaCon Photo Gallery With Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Ryan Gosling, Oprah, Sydney Sweeney & More
Villaneuve said that Austin Butler plays a swashbuckler who also is a crazy killer. Lea Seydoux is bringing a mysterious character to screen.
“Part Two is an epic war movie, much more dense,” ,” said the filmmaker “We visited Arakis. We visit new locations; everything is new in the film. In the first movie, we shot 40% in Imax — this time it’s full Imax.”
Chalamet talks about the pinnacle moment of the sequel — when he rides a sandworm. It’s a rite of passage to become part of the Fremen people.
The jawdropping trailer begins with Chani and Paul sitting at the edge of the desert. “It’s breathtaking, just imagine water,” he tells her.
Florence Pugh’s Princess Corrino says, “In the shadow of Arakis lies many secrets, but the darkness to all of that is what remains.”
“Fury Will Rise” flashes across the screen as the pic’s tagline.
“What if Paul Atreides was still alive?” asks Pugh’s character.
We see him rise as a great leader among the Fremen, getting advice from Javier Bardem’s Stilgar about riding the worm. Awesome grappling and hook work as Paul tries to wrestle and mount the beast, getting swallowed up by the sand. There’s a shot of someone’s eyes turning blue, getting high on the spice.
“Be simple, but direct,” says Stilgar.
“Nothing fancy,” answers Paul. Shots of him appearing atop of a canyon to cheering people, and fighting knife to knife with Butler’s character, played by Sting in the original film.
CinemaCon, the annual convention of movie theater owners from around the world, runs through Thursday at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.