Dune: Part Two

Dune: Part Two is a 2024 American epic space opera film directed by Denis Villeneuve, from a screenplay he wrote with Jon Spaihts. It is a sequel to Dune (2021), is the second film in a two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert's 1965 science fiction novel Dune, and is the second of a trilogy of films developed by Legendary Pictures. Timothée Chalamet leads an ensemble cast as Paul Atreides, an exiled monarch who allies with the Fremen to overthrow House Harkonnen as part of a quest to become a messianic figure. Villeneuve produced Dune: Part Two with his wife and business partner Tanya Lapointe, Mary Parent and Cale Boyter of Legendary Pictures, and Patrick McCormick. Funding came from a distribution agreement between Legendary and Warner Bros. Pictures, as well as tax subsidies from Hungarian, Jordanian, and Abu Dhabi governments.

Parent and Boyter pursued the idea of a Dune film after obtaining rights to the novel in 2016. Villeneuve's deal with Legendary mandated the book's adaptation in two films. A sequel was approved in October 2021, and production started almost immediately. Villeneuve intended for Dune: Part Two to explore Paul's evolution into an increasingly unscrupulous character. Principal photography took place in Hungary, Italy, Jordan, Namibia, and the United Arab Emirates from July to December 2022. Creative decisions exemplified the production's expanded scope and changes in visual presentation, such as shooting partially in black-and-white infrared light. Hans Zimmer composed the film's soundtrack, building upon his earlier work in Dune.

Dune: Part Two premiered in Mexico City on February 6, 2024, and was released globally the week of March 1. The film was a critical and commercial success; it became 2024's seventh highest-grossing film at the box office with $715 million, and was chosen as one of the best ten films of the year by the American Film Institute. Critics praised Dune: Part Two for its onscreen world and acting, though some complained about the writing. The film was nominated for five awards at the 97th Academy Awards (including Best Picture), winning two, and received numerous accolades mostly for technical achievement. A sequel based on Herbert's 1969 novel Dune Messiah, Dune: Part Three, is scheduled for release on December 18, 2026.