With “Dune: Part Two”, the second part of Denis Villeneuve’s science fiction saga, based on the novel series by Frank Herbert, has finally arrived in cinemas. It tells the story of the young Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) on the planet Arrakis, who, together with the Fremen people around the young warrior Chani (Zendaya), resists Emperor Shaddam (Christopher Walken) and the enemy Harkonnen. However, Villeneuve does not conclude the story about the young duke and prophesied messiah with this second part, but rather opens the gates for a possible third part with the ending.
After the premiere of “Dune 2” in London, we met Denis Villeneuve for a detailed interview and also asked him about the future of the “Dune” universe. In the conversation, the director and screenwriter talked about whether we can expect ‘Dune 3: Messiah’ soon and whether he is involved in the prequel series ‘Dune: Prophecy’.
Denis Villeneuve does not want to follow in his own footsteps
Dennis Villeneuve: ‘Soon’ is a big word. The thing is, these movies take a really long time to write. I did part two right after part one. I didn’t have time to rest. And now it takes me a few months to write. I was ready to get part two into this world as quickly as possible, because it’s not a sequel, it’s a continuity, and I discussed with the studio that we would do part two as soon as possible. I didn’t make any other films or take a break in the meantime. I went straight back inside.
And now I think it would be healthy for me to sleep for a few days and take the time to write the script, which is not finished yet, and maybe make another movie in the meantime. Just to create distance from the world. I don’t want to follow in my own footsteps, I want to see the world in a different way. I have to find this way. I have a few ideas. The script is in progress. We are on the right track. But it’s not done yet and I don’t want to rush into it. Even if it were finished now, I would first want to distance myself from it for a while. I’ve spent six years in the desert and I need to sleep.
Dennis Villeneuve: Yes, that’s another problem.
Dennis Villeneuve: The series was created completely independently of me. I’m also not an executive producer because I was too busy making the films. I decided not to do both at the same time because the films demanded my full attention. I didn’t feel like I was being helped. And I didn’t want to just put my name on it if I hadn’t contributed anything creative. That’s not fair to other people. I respect the work of everyone else involved too much for that. It will be very interesting for me to see what someone else has done with this universe. I’m really looking forward to seeing this. But I have nothing to do with it.
“Dune: Prophecy” comes before “Dune 3”
While Denis Villeneuve is taking his well-deserved break and we will certainly have to wait a few more years for “Dune 3”, The series “Dune: Prophecy” is in the starting blocks on HBO MAX and will start in the fall of 2024, according to current reports.
Based on the “Dune” universe from Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel, the series was created by Diane Ademu-John (“Empire”). Emily Watson (“Chernobyl”), Olivia Williams (“The Crown”), Johdi May (“The Witcher”) and Travis Fimmel (“Vikings”) will star in front of the camera in the sci-fi prequel, which is primarily concerned with the sisterhood of the Bene Gesserit.