Photo: IGN
French Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve has announced that writers are already deep into writing the script for “Dune: Part Two,” and production will begin by this summer’s end.
The director spoke about the progression of the sequel. “Dune: Part Two” is Villeneuve’s adaptation of the sci-fi novel by Frank Herbert. He revealed that the sequel’s script is set, and the project is in the process of filming later this summer, one year before its scheduled premiere.
Villeneuve said they are supposed to film by the end of the summer. Adding that, “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. 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.”
There were concerns that a sci-fi movie containing high concepts such as Dune might not acquire the audiences required for numerous movies.
But the box office ratings of this movie say differently. There was, in fact, an audience for it and, by extension, allowed Villeneuve to broaden his franchise even more with another installment further down the line.
“I want to have more flexibility, and it will be possible to go a little bit deeper into some of these details. It’s like a chess game. Dune: Part 2 will introduce some new characters in the second part, and a decision I made very early on was that this first part would be more about Paul Atreides and Bene Gesserit and his experience of being in contact for the first time with a different culture,” explained Villeneuve. “Second part, there will be much more Harkonnen stuff.”
