Good News, ‘Dune: Part Two’ Has Just Completed Filming
— Updated on 28 April 2023

Good News, ‘Dune: Part Two’ Has Just Completed Filming

— Updated on 28 April 2023
Garry Lu
WORDS BY
Garry Lu

According to a recent Instagram post from franchise star Timothée Chalamet, Dune 2 (officially titled Dune: Part Two) has just completed filming in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

While Chalamet’s post doesn’t exactly provide much further context regarding what we can expect from the highly-anticipated sequel, it does confirm the production being helmed by the inimitable Denis Villeneuve is on track to meet its November 2023 release date/deadline.

As some of you may recall, Dune 2 was greenlit by both Legendary Entertainment and Warner Bros before the first film even had a chance to hit global markets such as Australia. And it’s rather unsurprising considering the sci-fi epic essentially won on every single front that mattered right from the jump: hype, commercial, and critics.

RELATED: ‘Vikings’ Star Travis Fimmel Cast In HBO’s ‘Dune’ Prequel Series

The earliest sign we were in for a cinematic treat was the eight-minute standing ovation it received during the 2021 Venice Film Festival world premiere. Then came the $401.8 million worth of global box office receipts it generates against the $165 million production budget. When award season rolled around, Villeneuve’s Dune manage to take home the golden statuette for six out of its 10 Academy Award nominations:

  • Best Sound
  • Best Original Score (Hans Zimmer)
  • Best Film Editing (Joe Walker)
  • Best Production Design (Patrice Vermette & Zsuzsanna Sipos)
  • Best Cinematography (Greig Fraser)
  • Best Visual Effects (Paul Lambert, Tristan Myles, Brian Connor, Gerd Nefzer)

“I wanted at the beginning to do the two parts simultaneously,” Denis Villeneuve previously told Variety.

“For several reasons, it didn’t happen, and I agreed to the challenge of making Part One and then wait to see if the movie rings enough enthusiasm.”

Dune 2 Officially Wraps Filming, On Track For 2023 Release Date

“It was a dream of mine to adapt Frank Herbert’s Dune – and I have the fans, the cast, and crew, Legendary and Warner Bros to thank for supporting this dream.”

“This is only the beginning.”

“The story in itself sets up for a sequel,” said Ann Sarnoff, CEO of Warner Bros.

“The production is so amazing and the storytelling is so compelling that it’s not going to be judged on box office alone.”

Given the Frank Herbert novel’s troubled history of being translated onto screens – earning itself a place among the most “impossible” books to adapt, next to Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace and Ulysses by James Joyce – many were understandably exercising a measure of caution about the first instalment. But if anyone was going to meet exceed expectations, it’d be an auteur of Denis Villeneuve’s calibre.

Dune 2 Officially Wraps Filming, On Track For 2023 Release Date

In addition to Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, Dune 2 re-welcomes Rebecca Ferguson as Paul’s mother and Bene Gesserit Lady Jessica; Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck – House Atreides’ weapons master and mentor to Paul; Stellan Skarsgard as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen – the man formerly charged with supervising planet Arrakis and sworn enemy of Leto; Dave Bautista as Glossu Rabban – Baron Harkonnen’s nephew, the physical type of adversary; Zendaya as Chani – Paul’s mysterious native Arrakis love interest; Javier Bardem as Stilgar – leader of the native Arakis tribe.

Since Dune 2’s initial announcement, a handful of heavy-hitting names have been added to the cast, most notably Christopher Walken, who portrays the villainous Emperor Shaddam IV.

“Walken will play the ruler of the known universe who initially sends the Atreides family to Arrakis in order to cause their downfall,” explained The Hollywood Reporter.

RELATED: Here’s Your First Look At ‘Dune – Part Two’

Dune 2 - Christopher Walken as Emperor Shaddam IV

“In the continuation, he and the baron terrorise the populace and must contend with the rebellion. Jose Ferrer played the part in the 1984 movie adaptation by David Lynch.”

Other fresh faces include Hollywood it-girl Florence Pugh as Emperor Shaddam IV’s daughter Princess Irulan; Elvis star Austin Butler as Paul Atreides’ main rival, Emperor Shaddam IV’s nephew, and planned successor on Arrakis, Feyd-Rautha; plus Bond alum Lea Seydoux as Lady Margot, a Bene Gesserit and close friend of the Emperor.

Similar to 2021’s Dune, the sequel has been collaboratively adapted between Villeneuve himself, Jon Spaihts (PrometheusDoctor StrangePassengers), and Eric Roth (Forrest GumpThe InsiderA Star Is Born); while the cinematography has once again been accomplished by Aussie talent Greig Fraser – who you will have probably encountered in Zero Dark ThirtyRogue One: A Star Wars Story, and Matt Reeves’ The Batman. Hans Zimmer has also returned to compose the score for this one.

Dune 2 (officially titled Dune: Part Two) has locked in a November 3rd of 2023 release date.

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Garry Lu
WORDS by
After stretching his legs with companies such as The Motley Fool and the odd marketing agency, Garry joined Boss Hunting in 2019 as a fully-fledged Content Specialist. In 2021, he was promoted to News Editor. Garry proudly retains a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, black bruises from Muay Thai, as well as a black belt in all things pop culture. Drop him a line at [email protected]