With a cinematic version that most critics and fans adore, Frank Herbert’s beloved science fiction novel finally had a Dune: Part Two that debuted in theaters last week, saving the box office and taking a victory lap.
Plot points from director Denis Villeneuve’s debut film are concluded, and the original novel adaptation is finished in a genuinely shocking way, especially for book readers who could have anticipated certain scenes and lines. However, the film also leaves several possibilities open for a potential sequel, indicating that the director is clearly not finished with the Dune universe.
Naturally, Villeneuve has a plethora of material to work with beyond the concepts he plants in Part 2. In addition to the subsequent book in Herbert’s original six-book cycle, his son Brian Herbert and science fiction writer Kevin J. Anderson concluded the original saga with a two-book conclusion (drawn from Herbert’s notes for a seventh book) and proceeded to delve deeper into the nature of the universe through numerous spin-offs that centered on the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood, the noble houses, and other topics. Dune, with the help of all three authors, tells the story of some fifteen thousand years of human history in the future. Thus, book readers will be somewhat aware of what happens next.
Although Villeneuve has said that the third movie won’t necessarily be his next, the exact release date of the picture is uncertain, but that won’t stop us from making assumptions. This is, after all, Dune. Come share a bowl of spiced porridge, a spice candy, and some spiced coffee with us as we expand our psychic vision to imagine what might occur in Dune: Part Three and what might appear in future chapters.
Even though Villeneuve is not revealing a specific timeline for the third film, he has openly expressed his desire to continue Paul Atreides’ story with an adaptation of Herbert’s second novel, Dune Messiah, on a prominent platform like Stephen Colbert’s talk show. Published in 1969, it is the thinnest of the author’s follow-up books and has sparked mixed opinions.
Set 12 years after Paul Muad’Dib’s Fremen jihad resulted in the deaths of 60 billion people, he reflects on his decisions and the current state of the Imperium. The second Dune novel is more reflective in nature compared to the first one. It is impressive how the author delves into deeper themes despite the action-packed narrative of the previous book, addressing Herbert’s concerns about powerful leaders.
In addition to Paul’s reflections, the story involves a group of people, consisting of both familiar and new characters, scheming to carry out an assassination while trying to evade Maud’Dib’s foreseeing eyes. Avoiding detection is a concept hinted at in Dune: Part Two, when Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) is unable to anticipate Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen’s (Austin Butler) assault on Sietch Tabr.
While the film doesn’t delve deeply into this, it hints at a concept Herbert explores in Dune through another character. Paul’s ability to foresee events does not extend to others who possess the same skill. Later in the novel, he discovers a character he had not foreseen in his visions, as that individual was another possible Kwisatz Haderach. Discussing Feyd as a potential superbeing that the Bene Gesserit could manipulate through his weaknesses, it seems likely that this concept influenced his character and contributed to the challenge of Paul’s confrontation with him. They were unable to depend on their skills to predict attacks.
This blind spot is crucial for the conspirators in Dune Messiah.
In the upcoming installment, you may see familiar faces such as Charlotte Rampling, Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, and Zendaya in potential roles.
Another character’s comeback would surprise viewers who have only seen the two Villeneuve movies. We won’t give away any details here, but if the character does return (as a clone called a ghola), it could indicate that Legendary and Warner Bros. Pictures are dedicated to creating additional films following Part Three.
Naturally, our assumptions regarding Dune Messiah are predicated on a more literal reading of the book. However, Villeneuve and co-writer Jon Spaihts have now inserted some unexpected divergences that will affect the plot of Part Three. First among them is Alia, Paul’s sister.
She is born soon after Jessica consumes the Water of Life in the first Dune novel, and she ages quickly after that. In the second part, Alia’s developing embryo reacts with the deadly water, granting her complete consciousness yet not hastening her physical development. Rather, after Paul drinks the Water of Life, she manifests herself telepathically through Jessica and through images of Anya Taylor-Joy.
Villeneuve has been evasive regarding the actor’s potential return to Dune, but it is expected that Taylor-Joy will portray a more experienced Alia. According to the text, she will be about 12 years old, but because of the water’s effects, she is present as an adult. However, since the filmmaker has removed the two-year time jump from the second part of Dune, it’s feasible that Part Three will pick up just after Part Two concludes, with Alia still unborn. Regardless, there are others who wonder if Alia is supposed to be the real Kwisatz Haderach or one of the various potentials that Mohiam and Irulan talk about in Part Two. It’s conceivable that Alia will aspire to be the one given her backstory in the novels.
Additionally, to show how much the Dune future has already changed for the movie series, in the book, it is Alia—not Paul—who murders Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård). The fact that she killed her maternal grandpa with a knife at the age of two (although appearing and behaving older than that) had a significant effect on her character and her role in the novels that followed. She might still receive many of the same traits from The Water of Life as her fictional counterpart, but there might be other consequences as well.
Her part in the predictions the Bene Gesserit sowed on Arrakis and countless other worlds could be one of these consequences. She may pose as Lisan Al-Ghaib and prove to be just as formidable a foe to Paul as Feyd.
However, there are additional potential issues to be concerned about. Take a minute to reflect on how Part Two took its time introducing Lady Margot Fenring (Léa Seydoux) and emphasizing that she had slept with Feyd in order to “secure the bloodline.” Although Herbert never follows up on that exact tangent—his son and Anderson do so in the 2008 novel Paul of Dune—it does occur in Dune. Although Part Two does downplay Thufir Hawat’s (Stephen McKinley Henderson) role in the novel’s later half, a movie cannot afford to introduce a concept like that and then brush it off. As a result, Lady Fenring’s child might appear in Part Three as Paul or Alia’s adversary.
Yes, this is extreme speculation, but keep this in mind as well: Part Two casts Tim Blake Nelson in an unidentified part. Although his scenes were removed, many believe he played Count Hasimir Fenring, the quasi-Kwisatz Haderach Paul was unable to detect in the novel and the spouse of Lady Fenring. Is it feasible that Villeneuve chose to save the count for Part Three, when he would play Lady Fenring’s son (in Paul of Dune, her child is female)? A character like that may easily take on the role of yet another character that is introduced in Dune Messiah and really bring the Lady Fenring scenes to life. Margot’s counterbalance to Jessica would also present a wealth of interesting material for the two actresses to work with.
Naturally, assuming that Part Three occurs around ten years after Part Two.
And because Chani’s connection with Paul is left uncertain in Part Two’s closing image, that’s still a bold assumption at this stage. If Villeneuve had not intended to depict their reconciliation—or the total breakdown of their relationship—would he have driven such a sharp gulf between them? Furthermore, Chani’s last significant addition to the Dune story contradicts the persona that Zendaya, Spaihts, and the director have developed for Chani. She wouldn’t feel at ease with what happened next until the entire movie was over. On the other hand, the time jump and the events that follow the third film seem more certain if Villeneuve waits five or more years to create Part Three.
As we previously stated, a certain well-known figure will foreshadow any Dune movies that go beyond Part Three; but, we won’t reveal who that is in order to protect those who are unfamiliar with the books. Since they are the only thing that remains constant after Dune Messiah, the character ends up becoming the face of Dune. Children of Dune, the third book, follows Paul’s child, Alia, and a few other well-known characters as they go along what Paul’s son will eventually refer to as The Golden Path.
The plot of Book Four, God Emperor of Dune, centers on Paul’s son, who has been aged roughly 3500 years as a result of the events of Children of Dune, and his additional plans to advance humanity along the Golden Path. The following two books, Chapterhouse: Dune and Heretics of Dune, go ahead by another millennium to find the Imperium ready for conquest and the Bene Gesserit losing their position of authority as they get ready for an unknown foe. The final several novels in the series are wrapped up in Hunters of Dune and Sandworms of Dune, which take Dune all the way back to its starting points. The concepts get increasingly complex, causing some readers to vaguely remember how the first book was more of a pulpy adventure. There is a lot of science fiction from the mid-1970s that, to be honest, we don’t think Warner Bros. has the intestinal fortitude to adapt to. And that’s before you even think about trying to find a director who will allow a small-armed, talking sandworm to play a significant role.
Having said that, a cunning producer with a creative streak could turn Dune into an epic seven- or eight-film series, with a new director every two or three films.
Which puts Villeneuve back into focus. Even if he says over and over that he wants to depart after Part Three, will he really be able to let someone else handle the Children of Dune adaptation? Will he ever come to desire to see the God Emperor in all of its worm-like splendor? Or does he realize that, even though adjusting to Dune was a challenging task, the difficulty curve reaches an enormous peak with book five?
Of course, nothing is certain at this point. For the filmmaker, his crew, and the studio, Part Three will offer a rational and fulfilling conclusion. However, it could be too hard to ignore the siren call of the previous volumes, not to mention the extended information Anderson and Herbert’s son are pushing.
Dune is a great asset for a media conglomerate and an undeniable commercial success for the first time in its life as a media property. But to go further would be to present concepts that are incompatible with that company. Although Part Two already has ideas and imagery that defy Warner Bros. Discovery’s business strategy, the counter-culture ideas really pick up steam a few pages into Dune Messiah and continue to do so. Paul’s evil side is just getting started at the end of Part Two.
However, even if the only thing we get from this is a Part Three (or Dune Messiah), it will still be an incredible accomplishment and more than any spice-loving Dune enthusiast could have ever imagined.
