'Dune: Part Two' Arrives in Theaters Next Month

Arguably the cinematic event of 2021, Denis Villeneuve's massively scaled Dune was released in theaters and on HBO Max, following a high-profile delay in light of the pandemic. Early buzz was mostly very positive following the film's Venice premiere on the festival circuit, and in the weeks leading up to its North American release, the epic performed well overseas.

Dune opened nationwide last fall in the U.S. with a day-and-date release on HBO Max. The picture earned a respectable $41 million atop the domestic box-office in its first three days in the U.S., especially impressive taking the HBO Max release into account. In addition to overall positive reviews and mostly euphoric reception from fans of Frank Herbert's book, Dune is the highest-grossing film of respected filmmaker Villeneuve's career. Its final box-office tally rests just above $400 million, especially impressive considering the simultaneous release to HBO Max.

The announcement of a sequel was entirely dependent on the first installment being a hit—and now, by any metric, it is. Which is good news, considering that Dune ends rather abruptly on a sequel-beckoning cliffhanger. In October of 2021, Warner Bros. announced a sequel. Here's everything we know about Dune Part Two right now.

What is the Dune sequel called? 

The sequel is just called Dune: Part Two, which we know thanks to franchise star Timothée Chalamet's eye-popping Twitter announcement, complete with a logo and working title of the film. That tweet has already been liked over half a million times.

What is the Dune: Part Two release date?

The follow-up to Dune is now slated for March 1, 2024. The sci-fi epic was originally slated for a fall 2023 release date, which would have launched the Oscar contender during the heart of awards season. However, due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the release date was pushed back to March 15, 2024. Then in November 2023, the date was moved yet again, bumping it two weeks earlier in the spring lineup. Dune: Part Two will now arrive in theaters a whole year before the 2024 Oscars, putting it in a much worse awards position and a box office dead zone. 

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Will Dune: Part Two be on HBO Max or in theaters?

Dune: Part Two will arrive exclusively to theaters. This is expected, as the cast and Villeneuve were openly critical of Warner's decision to move their entire 2021 slate (including Dune) to HBO Max day-and-date releases.

How long will Dune: Part Two be in theaters? That's unknown. In light of the rapidly changing entertainment landscape, the industry standard for theater exclusivity is about 45 days.

Who is directing Dune: Part Two?

Villeneuve is returning as director. The French-Canadian filmmaker's oeuvre is widely acclaimed, his work on 2016's Arrival garnered a Best Director Oscar nod, and Dune fans are mostly gaga for what he's done with the beloved books on screen.

Who is in the cast of Dune: Part Two?

The cast will include plenty of familiar faces from Dune: Part One as well as several newcomers. The returners are: 

• Timothee Chalamet as Paul Atreides
• Zendaya as Chani
• Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica
• Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck
• Dave Bautista as Glossu Rabban
• Stephen McKinley Henderson as Thufir Hawat
• Stellan Skarsgard as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen
• Charlotte Rampling as Gaius Helen Mohiam
• Javier Bardem as Stilgar

Those added to the cast exclusively for Part Two are:

• Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, the Baron's young nephew
• Christopher Walken as Shaddam IV, the Emperor
• Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, the Emperor's daughter
• Lea Seydoux as Lady Margot, a Bene Gesserit
• Souheila Yacoub as Shishakli, a Freman warrior
• Tim Blake Nelson in an undisclosed role

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Is there a trailer for Dune: Part Two?

Thank Muad'Dib! We've finally got a full-length trailer for the Dune sequel. It dropped on June 29, 2023, and has us thrilled for a return to Arrakis. 

What will be the plot of Dune: Part Two?

The first film ended as Paul is accepted to the Fremen, joining them on their journey through Arrakis. Part Two will see Zendaya's Chani become a co-protagonist. As the journey continues, Paul rises in the ranks among the Fremen, assists in the rebellion against the Emperor, has multiple potential love interests—and this is maybe the most exciting part of all for us—Paul is definitely going to ride a sandworm.

It's certainly worth noting that the source material becomes less conventional, more challenging, one could even say less crowd-pleasing but more provocative and relevant as it goes along. Herbert's books are full of shocking twists that we won't give away here, but expect to have your draw drop at least a time or two during the upcoming film.

What is Dune about, and why is it so popular?

Herbert's series is about a feudal society in the distant future, and intergalactic power struggles and a fight for resources, notably "spice" from the planet Arrakis. Like the expanded universe of J.R.R. Tolkien, Dune has been hailed as a masterclass in world-building and far-reaching high-fantasy storytelling. Villeneuve's film has been well-received by most critics and audience members—perhaps most of all by hardcore fans of the source material. Dune was once adapted for the big screen in 1984 by David Lynch (a financial and critical disaster) and for TV in 2000 (slightly better received but hardly a classic).

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Will there be a third Dune movie?

There's been no official announcement of Dune Part Three, but it seems highly plausible at this point. Herbert's books become more and more plot-heavy and metaphysical as they go along. If anyone can make the infamously tricky material work, it's Denis Villeneuve. He's absolutely deserving of another Best Director Oscar nod for Dune. 

Dune is now on HBO Max. It received 10 Oscar nominations including Best Picture.

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