With ten Oscar nominations and a gross of over $400 million worldwide, Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” has been successful enough that the sequel is now guaranteed and gearing up for a mid-year shoot.
The film of course will adapt the back half of Frank Herbert’s first novel, but a while back came an indication from Villeneuve himself that he had a desire to adapt the shorter second book “Dune: Messiah” into a third film that would close out Paul’s story.
This week, scribe Jon Spaihts spoke to The Playlist and was asked about the second film and the potential of leaving open the door for a third entry. Spaihts says:
“‘Dune Messiah’ picks up years after the close of ‘Dune,’ and yes, Denis has talked seriously about making that film as well, as a conclusion of the trilogy.
‘Dune Messiah’ is a very interesting book, which in some ways, deconstructs Dune and plays as a cautionary tale, even more than Dune does, about the dangers of blending religion and politics, the hazards of following charismatic leaders, and the dangerous struggle that’s always alive between the individual and institutions.
There are a few tantalizing strands that lead into the future and suggest that we might not be done in this universe, despite the fact that the ending of ‘Dune’ as a novel, which will be the ending of the second film, is a very satisfying conclusion.
There are a number of ways in which the book also sounds ominous notes, and there are hints of foreboding about what made be yet to come.”
This week’s news of the potential casting of Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan gives us a hint at what could come – the character is a small but key part of the original “Dune” novel, but plays a bigger role in ‘Messiah’.
To date, only one screen adaptation of “Dune Messiah” exists which is the 2003 Syfy three-part mini-series “Children of Dune” which adapts the second and third books and uses ‘Messiah’ as the basis of the first of those parts.
“Dune: Part Two” is set for release on October 20th 2023.