The second installment of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune franchise isn’t the only new entry into Dune‘s world coming our way.  Warner Media, together with Legendary Television, is creating a Dune tie-in series titled Dune: The Sisterhood. The show will serve as a prequel to the films and focus on the Harkonnen Sisters as they create the mysterious order of the Bene Gesserit. Villeneuve will even serve as an executive producer.

Dune: The Sisterhood may be transforming a bit, though, when it comes to its title. According to IGN, the series has been renamed Dune: Prophecy and is expected to arrive in fall 2024. We’ll be excited to soon hear more about the show if this is true.

Here’s everything we know about Dune: The Sisterhood so far.

Title

The title for this Dune series is Dune: The Sisterhood.

Dune: The Sisterhood‘s Plot

We do not have specifics about Dune: The Sisterhood‘s plot. But, as mentioned, we do know it will serve as a prequel to the story taking place in Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two. A logline for the show reveals more about what we can expect:

Set within the mystical world of Dune, created by acclaimed author Frank Herbert, and 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, Dune: The Sisterhood follows the Harkonnen Sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled sect known as the Bene Gesserit.

Behind the Scenes

To help cement the connection between the series and movies, Denis Villeneuve will serve as an executive producer on Dune: The Sisterhood. Meanwhile, Alison Schapker will be the showrunner and an executive producer of the series. Schapker previously worked as an executive producer on Westworld. She also had a hand in Netflix’s Altered Carbon and other series like Fringe, Lost, and Almost Human. Additionally, Warner Media shares that “Diane Ademu-John serves as creator, writer, and executive producer.”

According to a release:

Academy Award-nominated writer Jon Spaihts, Scott Z. Burns, Mark Friedman and Matthew King will executive produce with Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt and Kim Herbert for the Frank Herbert estate. Kevin J. Anderson will co-produce. The series is co-produced by HBO Max and Legendary Television with Legendary also producing the film franchise that released its first installment to critical acclaim in October 2021 and garnered six Academy Awards, including Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Dune: The Sisterhood‘s Cast

So far, we’ve seen quite a few exciting casting announcements for Dune: The Sisterhood.

Emily Watson will act as the lead of the show. Watson will play the role of Valya Harkonnen. Shirley Henderson was slated to play Tula Harkonnen but has exited the series. Other cast members include:

• Indira Varma as Empress Natalya, a formidable royal who united thousands of worlds in her marriage to Emperor Corrino
• Sarah-Sofie Boussnina as Princess Ynez, an independent young princess dealing with the pressures of her responsibility as heir to the Golden Lion Throne
• Shalom Brune-Franklin as Mikaela, a strong-willed Fremen woman who serves the royal family while longing for a home planet she’s never known
• Faoileann Cunningham as Sister Jen, a fierce, unpredictable acolyte in training at the Sisterhood School who rarely reveals her emotional core
• Aoife Hinds as Sister Emeline, a zealous acolyte descended from a long line of martyrs, who carries fervent religion to her training at the Sisterhood
• Chloe Lea as Lila, the youngest acolyte at the Sisterhood School with a deep empathy beyond her years
• Travis Fimmel as Desmond Hart, a charismatic soldier with an enigmatic past, who seeks to gain the Emperor’s trust at the expense of the Sisterhood
• Mark Strong as Javicco Corrino, a man from a great line of war-time Emperors, who is called upon to govern the Imperium and manage a fragile peace
• Jade Anouka as Sister Theodosia, a talented and ambitious acolyte at the Sisterhood who harbors a dangerous secret about her past
• Chris Mason as Keiran Atreides, a Swordmaster to a Great House whose ambition to live up to his family name is disrupted when he forms an unexpected connection to a member of the royal family
• Josh Heuston as Constantine, the illegitimate son of the Emperor (Strong). His character is described as being ‘torn between seeking his father’s approval and his own happiness
• Edward Davis as Harrow Harkonnen, a rising politician from a once-great family, who harbors a strong desire to elevate his House to its former glory

Dune: The Sisterhood‘s Release Date

Dune: The Sisterhood does not yet have a release date.

Originally published in 2021.

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Why should Star Wars be the only epic space fantasy film with a penchant for desert planets that gets all the cool LEGO sets? Not to be outdone by that other space fantasy franchise, Dune receives a new LEGO set next year, showcasing the Atreides Royal Ornithopter. The Ornithopter features in one of the most iconic scenes from Denis Villeneuve’s first chapter of his Dune saga. This premium-quality replica, aimed at the adult collector market, features fold-out, flappable wings, deployable landing gear, and an opening cockpit.

The set also includes 8 iconic characters from Dune in LEGO Minifigure form. Included are Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin), and Chani (Zendaya). Also Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac), Liet Kynes (Sharon Duncan-Brewster), and Duncan Idaho (Jason Momoa). The coolest of all the Dune LEGO Minifigures, however, is the Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård) Minifigure in his extremely long robe. The Baron even has a clear plastic stand to make it appear as if he’s floating. You can check out several images from the new Dune LEGO set in our gallery below.

Click To View Gallery

This new 1,369-piece model, with wings folded out, measures over 9 in. (23 cm) high, 22 in. (57 cm) long and 31 in. (79 cm) wide. This LEGO replica has the option for both flight and landing mode displays. Thanks to the use of the LEGO Builder app, owners of the Atreides Royal Ornithopter will be able to access detailed instructions on how to assemble the Dune ship. The set will also include a print version of the manual. There’s no LEGO version of an Arrakis sandworm yet, but who knows what the future holds.

The Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter LEGO set is already available for pre-order, and it will set you back $164.99. It’s scheduled to start shipping on February 4, 2024, mere weeks before Dune: Part Two hits theaters on March 15.

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The spice isn’t the only thing that must flow. Warner Bros. wants actors flowing down red carpets promoting the studio’s biggest releases. However, until a fair agreement can be reached to end the SAG-AFTRA strike, the carpet will remain bare. That’s why Warner Bros. has delayed Dune: Part Two until March of 2024, pushing back from its intended November release. This makes some fans sad but all hope is not loss. They can dream even bigger about the franchise’s future. Director Denis Villeneuve still hopes that whenever his sequel arrives in theaters it’s a big enough success for him to do a third and final film. He wants to finish a trilogy with a movie based on Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah.

Villeneuve spoke to Empire about his continued goal to make a third Dune film. His “dream” is to adapt Herbert’s second novel. (Like Villeneuve’s first Dune movie, Part Two is based on the author’s original book.) It’s not just a general hope he has, either. He’s done at least some prep work already. Villeneuve said, “There are words on paper.” He hopes to one day bring them to life with moving images.

Fans of Villeneuve’s adaptations will certainly do everything they can to make that happen. This is especially true because Dune Messiah caps off the first book’s story by clearing up any questions of whether Paul Atreides is a hero or not. (If you don’t know about this story, then you’re in for some fun.)

But why stop with just a Dune trilogy? Why not continue his big screen epic with more installments the way Herbert did with his series of subsequent followup novels? Because that’s where the director’s interest in adapting the story ends. He said, “After [Dune Messiah] the books become more… esoteric.”

We have a long wait for Dune: Part Two. But if delaying it means we one day get Part Three, it’ll all be worth it.

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After a very long wait, Dune hit theaters in the fall of 2021 to both rave reviews and big box office. This despite bowing on HBO Max at the same time as its theatrical debut. But Dune was really just Dune: Part One. The first film only covered the first half of Frank Herbert’s epic 1965 novel. Luckily, the rest of the story is on the way. Dune: Part Two was officially announced on October 26, 2021.

Here’s everything else we know so far about Dune: Part Two.

Title

The official name of the movie is Dune: Part Two.

Dune: Part Two‘s Plot

The official plot synopsis from Warner Bros. and Legendary for Dune: Part Two reads as follows:

This follow-up film will explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

If you’re a fan of Frank Herbert’s Dune, this all sounds like a pretty faithful adaptation of the second half of his novel. And unlike David Lynch’s 1984 version of Dune, this packed second half will now have time to breathe. And who knows? Maybe we’ll see elements of the later Dune novels pop up a wee bit early.

For now, we can enjoy Dune: Part Two‘s first trailer, which highlight a crucial book scene: Paul riding on a sandworm.

The second trailer for the film shows more of Paul and Chani and the Fremen’s fight.

The chief takeaway is that Dune: Part Two is both a love story and a war movie, and we can expect both parts to shine.

Dune: Part Two‘s Cast

Almost the entire original cast from Dune is back for Dune: Part Two. At least if their character survived, that is. This includes Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, the “Kwisatz Haderach,” and Zendaya as his Fremen paramour Chani. Javier Bardem also returns as Chani’s father, Fremen leader Stilgar. Paul’s very pregnant mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) also returns for Dune: Part Two. Josh Brolin is back as Paul’s mentor Gurney Halleck, as is Stephen McKinley Henderson as Thufir Hawat, the loyal Mentat to House Atreides.

Stellan Skarsgård reprises his role as the sadistic Baron Harkonnen, as does Dave Bautista as the Baron’s loyal lackey and nephew Glossu Rabban. Charlotte Rampling’s character, the Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother, is also slated to return. New cast members include Florence Pugh (Princess Irulan) Austin Butler (Feyd Rautha), and Christopher Walken (Emperor Shadddam IV). They are joined by Léa Seydoux (Lady Margot) and Souheila Yacoub as the Fremen warrior Shishakli.

Of course, certain major characters died in the first film, and are not scheduled to appear in Dune: Part Two. These include Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho and Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto Atreides. But there could be surprise flashbacks. So don’t count them all out just yet. We may yet see them on the sands of Arrakis. Most recently, Deadline reported that Tim Blake Nelson joined the cast in an unknown role.

Behind the Scenes

Just as he was for Dune, director Denis Villeneuve is back behind the camera for Dune: Part Two. Jon Spaihts wrote the script for the second chapter of the story. Hans Zimmer also returned to score the sequel.

Dune: Part Two‘s Release Date

While the movie had been slated to come out November 3, 2023, due to the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, in which both guilds seek fair and suitable compensation and assurances from the AMPTP, Warner Bros. has decided to move Dune: Part Two to 2024. According to Deadline, Dune: Part Two hits theaters on March 15, 2024.

Originally published on August 1, 2022.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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Long live the fighters, Dune fans! Things get spicy in Dune: Part Two’s latest trailer, which offers epic action, ancient prophecies, and even a first look at Christopher Walken as Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV. Nerdist’s resident Dune expert Matt Caron dives in to break down all the easter eggs, hidden details, and everything else you might have missed on today’s episode of Nerdist News!

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Denis Villeneuve’s Dune brought Arrakis back to theaters. Now the director is bringing a Hollywood legend to the spicy fantasy world for the second half of his big budget adaptation. The new trailer for Dune: Part Two finally introduces Christopher Walker as the Padishah Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV. But he’s just one of the big names, both old and new, that will star in a film that looks even more epic than its predecessor.

As much as we want to focus on seeing nine-level CHEOPS chess in this trailer, there’s too much going on in this promo to plan an intergalactic board game night. (We’re always up for that though, FYI.) From shots of the Harkonnen home world of Geidi Prime and Austin Butler’s deadly Feyd-Rautha, to Gurney Halleck’s reunion with Paul and the new head of House Atreides’ guerilla war on Arrakis, this trailer is our best look yet at the film. Plus, you know, Christopher freaking Walken!

But the most intriguing aspect of this trailer is how much it focuses on Paul’s status as a possible messiah figure. How many truly believe he is? How many only do so because the Bene Gesserit led them to think that? And what awaits Paul as he wages war? The film’s official synopsis offers a clue at the decision he will have to make:

This follow-up film will explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

Even without Walken this would be an epic trailer. But obviously he makes it even better, which will almost certainly be true of the movie, too.

Dune: Part Two also stars Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya. Also returning are; Javier Bardem, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin Stephen McKinley Henderson, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, and Charlotte Rampling. Also joining the series are Florence Pugh, Léa Seydoux, and Souheila Yacoub. The sequel comes to theaters this fall on November 3, 2023.

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The sleeper has awakened, Dune fans! The first trailer for Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two has arrived with all the spice, blades, and sandworm action fans have been waiting for. Nerdist’s resident Dune expert, Matt Caron has you covered with all the easter eggs, hidden details, and everything else you might have missed in this epic sized trailer on today’s episode of Nerdist News!

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For those who have seen it, David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation of Dune is always a conversation-starter. Based on Frank Herbert’s novel of the same name, the sci-fi flick starred Kyle MacLachlan as Paul Atreides. It’s undoubtedly earned a place in pop culture history. A new book from Max Evry, A Masterpiece In Disarray: David Lynch’s Dune – An Oral History, will go behind the scenes “like never before” with an oral history detailing the film’s wild journey.

How much detail are we talking? Well, this Dune oral history is well over 500 pages. Evry conducted three dozen interviews with the film’s stars, creatives, and executives. He also spoke with David Lynch himself. They look back at the making of the ambitious movie and how things went right (and wrong). The book also examines its aftermath and pop culture legacy.

In a statement Evry said:

Dune has always been the black sheep of David Lynch’s filmography. After spending two years speaking to dozens of people involved in its making, hopefully readers of this book will come away thinking of Dune not only as a proper Lynch movie, but a worthy entry into the pantheon of sci-fi greats. They will also get hints of how it came to be so compromised, and how mind-blowing it could have been. In our modern era of cookie cutter blockbusters, Dune stands as a glorious oddity worthy of reconsideration.

A Masterpiece In Disarray: David Lynch’s Dune – An Oral History will arrive on shelves in the US on September 5, 2023. You can place a preorder now.

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Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part One set a grand stage. The film, which adapted part of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel of the same name, introduced us to Arrakis and its perils. The story set up Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides’ hero journey, leaving him and his mother Jessica with the Fremen. As the Dune: Part Two trailer shows, Paul and Jessica have become more at home with the Fremen. The footage builds to a key moment from the book: Paul riding a sandworm.

Since we last saw him, the young Atreides has clearly settled into life with the Fremen. We see in the Dune: Part Two trailer that he has become closer with Chani and takes advice from Stilgar. Lady Jessica has a role within the Fremen, too. Though how much can Arrakis’ native people trust these outsiders? Dune: Part Two will explore that, as well as the ongoing battle for survival between the Harkonnens and the Atreides. The film’s synopsis states:

Dune: Part Two will explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

This installment will also introduce a number of new characters. We hear Florence Pugh’s Princess Irulan in this Dune: Part Two trailer. Then we see Austin Butler’s Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, the Baron’s nephew. The Baron considers him heir to House Harkonnen. Speaking of, the Baron continues to plot the downfall of House Atreides. We see what looks like the Harkonnens burning Caladan, the world House Atreides moved to Arrakis from.

Click To View Gallery

Dune: Part Two arrives in theaters on November 3, 2023.

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Dune: Part Two is definitely not a sequel. That’s what Denis Villeneuve stressed in a new piece about the movie at Vanity Fair. He wants viewers to know it’s a continuation that will pick up right where the first film ended. What can audiences expect when they return to Arrakis? According to the director, Dune: Part Two is also both a love story and an epic war action movie. And both elements will be told by iconic characters played by some of Hollywood’s best actors.

Vanity Fair‘s new piece and accompanying images provide our first look yet at what to expect from the second half of Villeneuve’s blockbuster adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic sci-fi novel. It begins with the budding romance between Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides and Zendaya’s Chani. She’s a member of Arrakis’ desert-dwelling Fremen which he joined at the end of Dune: Part One. She’s also the woman he saw in his dreams. Their relationship will anchor Dune: Part Two. That was one of Villeneuve’s main focuses because he wants viewers invested in the outcome of the larger geopolitical war being waged.

Florence Pugh’s Princess Irulan Arrives in Dune: Part Two

Learning how to ride sandworms and awkwardly flirting with Chani is far from the only issue the young Atreides will face, though. Florence Pugh will help spice things up as Princess Irulan, daughter of Christopher Walken’s Emperor Shaddam IV. She’s worried about her father’s weakening grip on the galaxy and what that means for her future.

Austin Butler’s Feyd-Rautha Will Be a Deadly Enemy

Paul will also have a deadly new enemy to contend with in Dune: Part Two, Austin Butler’s Feyd-Rautha. Villeneuve describes the (you better believe bald) nephew of Baron Harrkonnen as “a cross between a psychotic, sociopath serial killer and Mick Jagger.”

Feyd-Rautha’s so imposing the director doesn’t even want to show him off just yet. The only image of him released at first was from behind, holding his infamous twin blades.

But more recently, we finally glimpsed Austin Butler’s full villainous majesty in a teaser for the Dune: Part Two trailer.

Familiar Faces Return in Dune: Part Two

We don’t need to wait to see his uncle, though. Baron Harkonnen is back in all his disgusting glory. An attack left Stellan Skarsgård’s notorious spice peddler weakened in the first film. The larger-than-life villain now finds even more comfort bathing and smoking spice.

He has a second nephew seeking to serve as his successor, too. Dave Bautista’s Glossu Rabban is also back in Dune: Part Two. But he doesn’t have the Machiavellian skills of his “much more cruel, much more strategic,” and much “more narcissistic” cousin Feyd-Rautha.

The Bene Gesserit Are Back

The Bene Gesserit are back in a big way, too. Lady Jessica, no longer a royal figure after losing almost everything, is so committed to making sure her son fulfills her ancient order’s prophecy she wears that prophecy on her face. A figure that can liberate the galaxy is a plan eons in the making. So no surprise the Bene Gesserit are sending someone else to factor into it whether or not Paul is the figure they’ve worked for so long to create. Léa Seydoux will play Lady Margot Fenring in Dune: Part Two, she is a Bene Gesserit sister working as a “secret agent.” But Villeneuve won’t reveal exactly what she’s doing. No matter her mission, don’t think of it in terms of good and evil. The Bene Gesserit doesn’t think in such terms.

Other Dune: Part Two Characters in Play

Fortunately for Paul Atreides, he will have some allies he can rely on. Josh Brolin’s Gurney Halleck is back, having survived the Harkonnen attack on the family he serves. He wants revenge and will be part of a huge battle readers know is coming.

Also returning is Javier Bardem’s Stilgar. The leader of the Fremen will be more accepting of Paul and Lady Jessica than some others. He will also be a father figure to the young would-be prophetic hero. Stilgar thinks Paul really could be the hero they’ve been waiting for.

Chani Is the Key

But in the end, it will all come back to Chani and Paul’s story. Chalamet says Chani is the key to his own character’s arc in Dune: Part Two. “The universe of Dune is a complex world of geopolitics and with tons of ecological and technological metaphors that hold up today,” he said. “But at the center, there’s this relationship where Chani sort of becomes a moral compass.”

Just remember, that relationship is the continuation of a story, not a totally new one.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

Originally published on April 27, 2023.

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No knock to any other big franchises, but Dune: Part One was easily one of the most gorgeous science-fiction films of the 21st century. And the visual splendor was captured in several behind-the-scenes photographs, many of which will soon be available to fans of Frank Herbert’s saga in a new book from Insight Editions. Coming this summer is Dune: Part One – The Photography, by Chiabella James. You can see a preview of several images from the book, as well as read the official synopsis, below.

From the cliffs of Norway to the deserts of Jordan, unit photographer Chiabella James was on set to capture every moment of Dune, director Denis Villeneuve’s Oscar-nominated sci-fi epic based on Frank Herbert’s classic novel. Dune Part One: The Photography is curated from thousands of stills shot throughout the filming of Dune. This deluxe volume compiles the most compelling photos to form a remarkable visual journey that fully captures the unique spirit of the production.

Encompassing the epic vistas witnessed on location shoots, through to candid moments between Villeneuve and key cast members including Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Zendaya, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, and Jason Momoa, this book also features a foreword by executive producer Tanya Lapointe (The Art and Soul of Dune), a preface by Ferguson, and an afterword by Brian Herbert.

Click To View Gallery

Dune: Part Two hits theaters everywhere around the world later this year on November 3. This book is the perfect way to immerse yourself ahead of time into the world of Arrakis once more. Not only does this book offer you a detailed look at director Denis Villeneuve’s epic world-building, but it also offers candid photos of the cast and crew just trying to relax in the desert heat. Dune: Part One – The Photography by Chiabella James arrives on July 25. You can pre-order the book now.

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Things are getting awfully spicy as fans prepare to make their trip back to Arrakis later this year. The Duniverse is continuing to grow as new cast members join the much anticipated sequel of the sci-fi saga, and the latest addition could be the most intriguing yet. Dan puts on his stillsuit to search out the spicy secrets of who Tim Blake Nelson’s mystery character could be in Dune 2 on today’s episode of Nerdist News!

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If you’ve been missing the sands of Arrakis, we have good news for you. A new Dune game, coming soon, will give you a whole new perspective on the desert planet. Dune: Awakening from Funcom and Legendary Entertainment is an open-world survival MMO that puts the player on Arrakis. We now even have a trailer that takes us deeper into the game’s stark and beautiful cinematography. All while giving us a glimpse of its vast, vast world.

From the unknowable sands of the desert to the dirty streets of civilization to the ancient halls of the testing stations, we’ll soon be able to visit every corner of Arrakis. And boy, does it look like we’ll have a lot to explore… And many mysteries to unravel.

An earlier trailer also gave us a more specific look at the game. In it, a figure in the desert takes in the environment and prepares to ride a sandworm, all while the Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear plays over the footage.

Dune: Awakening takes inspiration from both Frank Herbert’s iconic novels as well as Denis Villeneuve’s recent film. The player’s goal? Rise from survival to dominance. Thousands of players will share Arrakis’ turf with the same objective in mind. And you know, it’s Arrakis. Survival on this planet is no small feat. You have to consider your stillsuit, shelters, and walking with the proper lack of rhythm, so you don’t attract sandworms.

Click To View Gallery

In this vast MMO, players can explore the desert planet. That means potentially discovering fallen spaceships or visiting places the Fremen once called home. And of course, you can’t have a Dune environment without spice. Whoever controls the spice… The trailers show a glimpse of harvesting activity, and as a player, you can search for spice in the desert sands and harvest it before rival factions come to take it.

Dune: Awakening will be available for the PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. We don’t have a release date yet, but you can sign up for the game’s beta now.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

Originally published on August 24, 2022.

Amy Ratcliffe is the Editor-in-Chief for Nerdist and the author of Star Wars: Women of the Galaxy, The Art of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, The Jedi Mind, and more. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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Most of your Dune-related attention has likely revolved around Denis Villeneuve’s excellent movie. But there’s more than just the film to feel excited about. Warner Bros. is launching a tie-in TV series called Dune: The Sisterhood, which will air on HBO Max. We learned this news back in 2019, but now we know who’ll be delivering the project. Initially co-showrunner with Diane Ademu-John, Alison Schapker will now be the sole showrunner of the project. In addition, Legendary has shared that Johan Renck will direct the first two episodes as well as executive produce the show. Emily Watson and Shirley Henderson have been cast as the show’s leads. And now, Mark Strong, Jade Anouka, and Chris Mason have come aboard Dune: The Sisterhood as well. The show will serve as a prequel to the films.

A release reveals more about the three newest characters joining the world of Dune: The Sisterhood. It notes:

Mark Strong plays Emperor Javicco Corrino, a man from a great line of war-time Emperors, who is called upon to govern the Imperium and manage a fragile peace.

Jade Anouka plays Sister Theodosia, a talented and ambitious acolyte at the Sisterhood who harbors a dangerous secret about her past.

Chris Mason plays Keiran Atreides, a Swordmaster to a Great House whose ambition to live up to his family name is disrupted when he forms an unexpected connection to a member of the royal family. 

Additionally, according to Deadline, the Obi-Wan Kenobi, Game of Thrones, and Carnival Row actress, Indira Varma, has come aboard the show as well. Indira Varma will play the role of Empress Natalya. The actress is described as “a formidable royal who united thousands of worlds in her marriage to Emperor Corrino.”

She sounds incredibly epic.

Watson and Henderson will also star in Dune: The Sisterhood. They will play the roles of Valya Harkonnen and Tula Harkonnen, respectively. Deadline notes, “The formidable Harkonnen Sisters, who have risen to power in the Sisterhood, a secret organization of women who will go on to become the Bene Gesserit.”

Other Cast

In addition, Dune: The Sisterhood has revealed five new cast members. Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Faoileann Cunningham , Aoife Hinds, and Chloe Lea have joined the cast, per Deadline.

The publication reveals more about these new characters, noting:

Boussnina plays Princess Ynez, an independent young princess dealing with the pressures of her responsibility as heir to the Golden Lion Throne.

Brune-Franklin portrays Mikaela, a strong-willed Fremen woman who serves the royal family while longing for a home planet she’s never known.

Cunningham is Sister Jen, a fierce, unpredictable acolyte in training at the Sisterhood School who rarely reveals her emotional core.

Hinds plays Sister Emeline, a zealous acolyte descended from a long line of martyrs, who carries fervent religion to her training at the Sisterhood.

Lea portrays Lila, the youngest acolyte at the Sisterhood School with a deep empathy beyond her years.

Variety also reported that Vikings‘ Travis Fimmel has joined the cast. He will play Desmond Hart, “a charismatic soldier with an enigmatic past, who seeks to gain the Emperor’s trust at the expense of the Sisterhood.” Meanwhile, Deadline shared Tim Blake Nelson had joined the cast.

More About Dune: The Sisterhood

According to a release, the show’s description is as follows:

Set 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, Dune: The Sisterhood follows the Harkonnen Sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled sect known as the Bene Gesserit.

As the release mentions, the titular “sisterhood,” references the Bene Gesserit, a mysterious order of women who exist in the book series. The Bene Gesserit form a political and social force, whose members train their bodies and minds to the point that they obtain superhuman abilities. They also seek to help other humans reach enlightenment, but ultimately remain loyal only to themselves.

According to Deadline, “the Bene Gesserit expertly weave through the feudal politics and intrigue of The Imperium, pursuing plans of their own that will ultimately lead them to the enigmatic planet Arrakis — known to its inhabitants as Dune.” In the series and the film, our hero Paul Atreides’ (Timotheé Chalamet) mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) was raised by the Bene Gesserit, but betrays the secretive order in the name of love.

So yeah, not will we get a Dune TV series, but the Dune TV series lies in truly talented hands.

Behind the Scenes

As mentioned, Alison Schapker will serve as showrunner. According to Deadline, Schapker previously served as an executive producer on Westworld. She also worked on Netflix’s Altered Carbon as well as Fringe, Lost, and Almost Human. Meanwhile, a release shares that director Renck has “won two Emmys as director and an executive producer for the HBO limited series Chernobyl, the highest-rated TV show ever on IMDb, which earned a total of 19 Emmy Award nominations and 10 Emmy wins.” He also directed episodes for shows like Vikings, Bloodline, and Breaking Bad. 

Additionally:

Three-time Academy Award nominee Denis Villeneuve, Academy Award-nominated writer Jon Spaihts, Scott Z. Burns, Mark Friedman and Matthew King will executive produce with Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt and Kim Herbert for the Frank Herbert estate. Kevin J. Anderson will co-produce. The series is co-produced by HBO Max and Legendary Television with Legendary also producing the film franchise that released its first installment to critical acclaim in October 2021 and garnered six Academy Awards, including Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.

The show has now begun production.

It’s truly never been a better time to be a Dune fan. We’ll keep you posted as more information about the show becomes available.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

Originally published on June 10, 2019.

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Where a mere year away from Dune: Part Two hitting theaters, completing the big screen adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic science fiction novel. In the meantime, how will you satiate your love of all things Arrakis? Well, the folks at Mondo have got you covered. They have just revealed a stunningly gorgeous new poster that celebrates Denis Villeneuve’s first Dune film, and it comes in both a regular and variant edition. Artist Rory Kurtz stunningly rendered this artwork.

This incredible Dune poster becomes available on November 22. So this Thanksgiving, you’ll be grateful for the bounty on your table, and also all that wonderful spice melange. The poster features young Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) and his mother, the Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), contemplating the future of their noble house on the sands of Arrakis. You can check out both the regular and variant edition Dune posters down below:

Dune

Artwork by Rory Kurtz/Edition of 375

Printed by DL Screenprinting/$70

Dune (Variant)

Artwork by Rory Kurtz/Edition of 190

Printed by DL Screenprinting/$100

There will be a lot of other Dune products to tide you over until the second chapter arrives in theaters. There’s a Dune graphic novel adaptation, which arrives on December 6. There’s also the Dune: Awakening open-world MMO game. Not to mention the new Dune: Spice Wars video game.

And the arrival of Dune: Part Two won’t be the end of the live-action franchise either. The streaming series Dune: The Sisterhood, focusing on the Bene Gesserit sisterhood, is already in pre-production. It’s an open-ended question as to whether the rest of Herbert’s Dune books get any kind of continuation. However, there is much more story to tell after Part Two hits theaters.

To purchase one or both of these Dune posters, be sure to head on over to Mondo’s official website for more information.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks

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Denis Villeneuve’s Dune swept onto screens in a swirl of spice and epic story. The movie based on Frank Herbert’s novel of the same name showed Paul Atreides’ journey on Arrakis. Thrust into a leadership role, the young Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet, had to quickly find his way on the inhospitable planet. And now we can follow his hero’s path in an all-new way with Dune: The Official Movie Graphic Novel. The graphic novel from Legendary Comics and writer Lilah Sturges, artist Drew Johnson, and colorists Zid and Niezam brings the story of Dune to the page with gorgeous art. Nerdist has your first look at the trailer for Dune: The Official Movie Graphic Novel below.

Scenes from the film Dune look vibrant on the page. The illustrated spice in the air even seems to sparkle. The trailer shows that the graphic novel features many key character beats and story moments from the movie. Though the sequential art is still, it’s full of life.

The cover art for the Dune graphic novel comes from the legendary Bill Sienkiewicz. Sienkiewicz has a long history with Arrakis. He did the art for the original Dune comics for Marvel Comic in 1984 with writer Ralph Macchio. They adapted David Lynch’s take on the story. The artist cites those comics as a point when his style evolved. Now he’s taken that moment full circle with the cover for the comics adaptation of Villeneuve’s Dune.

The synopsis for Dune: The Official Movie Graphic Novel is as follows:

Legendary Comics proudly presents the official graphic novel adaptation of the Academy Award-winning sci-fi epic Dune directed by Denis Villeneuve, based on the acclaimed novel by visionary author Frank Herbert. This lavishly illustrated adaptation brings the vivid, mind-bending visuals of the landmark sci-fi masterpiece to life, offering readers a thrilling new way to see the future and experience Dune.

Dune: The Official Movie Graphic Novel will be available wherever you buy books or comics on December 6. You can place a preorder now. If you place a pre-order, you can register it here and you’ll get a bonus gift of an art print of Tim Sales’s iconic take on Paul Atreides, a bookmark and House Atreides decal sticker.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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It’s time to head back to Arrakis… well, eventually. Dune: Part Two is in the works and the follow-up will feature some new faces. Although we’ll have to wait a bit longer than we thought to watch it. Deadline reports its release has been delayed to November 17, 2023. But to make the wait worthwhile, let’s take a look at some of the official and reported cast for Dune: Part Two.

The latest cast member to reportedly join the sequel is Souheila Yacoub. Yacoub will play Shishakli, according to Deadline. This news comes on the heels of reports that Léa Seydoux is in talks for the movie as well. According to Deadline, if Seydoux joins the cast, she will play the role of Lady Margot Fenring. Lady Margot is “a long-standing servant of the Sisterhood” in Frank Herbert’s novel. Although eventually, it seems, she may turn from the Bene Gesserit to serve her own ends.

Christopher Walken also recently became a part of Dune: Part Two. A particularly fitting casting given Walken’s “Walk without rhythm, it won’t attract the worm” line in Fatboy Slim’s “Weapon of Choice.” The news was first shared by The Hollywood Reporter and was confirmed by the Dune movie’s official Instagram account. Walken joins other reported new Dune: Part Two cast members Florence Pugh and Austin Butler. Rumors state Walken will portray Emperor Shaddam IV, Pugh will portray his daughter Irulan, and Butler will take on the role of Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, the Baron’s nephew and heir.

When we last left Paul Atreides and his mother Jessica in Dune: Part One, they’d fled their home after the attack by the Harkonnens and were traveling with the Fremen. This means we have a whole lot more Herbert material to get through. And we haven’t even gotten to Dune Messiah, Denis Villenueve’s dream Part Three, yet.

In addition to Chalamet, the trio joins Javier Bardem, Zendaya, and Rebecca Ferguson. Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, and Stellan Skarsgard will return as well. Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV, Princess Irulan, and Feyd-Rautha are a few of a handful of major new characters expected to appear in the sequel.

Dune released in theaters in late October 2021, emerging as a critical and box office success. Legendary and Warner Bros. confirmed the sequel just a few days later. Denis Villeneuve returns to direct Part Two. He said in a statement:

I just received news from Legendary that we are officially moving forward with Dune: Part Two. 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.

Dune nabbed a whopping 10 Oscar nominations, including best picture, adapted screenplay, cinematography, and original score. It won a total of six, including cinematography and original score. Dune: Part Two will begin filming this summer. We’ll be on the lookout for any other major developments. And giant sandworms. We’re always keeping our eyes peeled for those spooky creatures.

Originally published on May 12.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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Your epic sci-fi or fantasy movie is really only as good as your score. And luckily, Dune had an appropriately grand one, thanks to the work of composer Hans Zimmer. And it even merited an Academy Award nomination this year. We believe this is well earned, as the Oscar winner really turned it out for the recent adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal science fiction novel.

Now, via Slashfilm, Warner Bros. has released a three-minute video of a live performance of portions of the Dune score, featuring Hans Zimmer himself on electric guitar. Not to mention on the sound mix board as well. You can watch the full video right here.

Unlike other film composers, Hans Zimmer has no problem rocking out on stage. Sure, John Williams and Danny Elfman play the Hollywood Bowl every year, but they rarely bust out their guitars. But then, Hans Zimmer has a history of this going back some forty years. He was a member of the New Wave group The Buggles, whose music video for “Video Killed the Radio Star” launched MTV back in 1981. After becoming a major film composer, he has performed on stage at giant outdoor concerts like Coachella. He’s always got a wee bit of the rock star thing in him still.

As cool as it is to see Zimmer rock out, let us not forget to give the ladies on stage their due. Vocalist Loire Cotler and cellist Tina Guo didn’t have to go that hard, but they did. And if their names sound familiar to you, it’s because they’ve worked with Zimmer before. You can hear Cotler in the scores for X-Men: Dark Phoenix, and non-Zimmer films like Raya and the Last Dragon. And Tina Guo is the same cellist behind the now-iconic Wonder Woman theme music. Now, what do we have to do to get a full Dune live concert?

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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You no longer need to lead a great house or be the Kwisatz Haderach to control Arrakis. Nor do you even need to form an alliance with the Fremen to secure desert power. You just need to be good at playing real-time strategy games. Because Frank Herbert’s seminal sci-fi novel-turned-big screen adaptation (twice over) is coming to Steam. And Dune: Spice Wars‘ first trailer is a stark reminder those priceless sands are dangerous in every type of media.

Funcom and Shiro Games announced more about their new venture, which takes fans back to Dune‘s most important world. Spice Wars challenges you to “lead your faction and battle for control and dominance over the harsh desert planet of Arrakis.” And you’ll get to do it by playing as some of the franchise’s most famous figures, like Duke Leto Atreides or the Baron Vladimir Harkonnen.

Dune: Spice Wars, which features 4X elements, includes many of the series’ signature elements. Ornithopters will let you “discover resources, villages, and points of interest.” All while you harness the planet’s resources through buildings and spice harvesters to make sure you also control Arrakis’ economy.

Players will also get to choose how they try and gain control of the most valuable planet in the galaxy. You can opt for “subterfuge, political influence, economic supremacy, or open warfare.” You’ll also employ secret agents to engage in some top-notch sabotage of your enemies. And you can even vote on political resolutions in the Landsraad to help you in your quest. You’ll ultimately need more than diplomacy and treachery, though. This trailer makes clear that even the smartest diplomats and schemers will need to be ready to fight. A planet this important won’t go down with some bloodshed.

Meanwhile, even the best video game players and Dune fans will still have those pesky sandworms to deal with. Talk about real desert power.

Dune: Spice Wars comes to Steam later this year. But you can apply for early access right now while the game is in development. Because while no one will ever truly control Arrakis, you could at least help shape the game it inspired.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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Fear is the mind killer. Unless you live on Sesame Street and have one of the world’s most famous giggles. Then a small rock is the mind killer. But it doesn’t matter what planet or neighborhood you come from, everyone should cower before the Bene Gesserit. That’s true whether you’re the future Kwisatz Haderach or a beloved puppet. And you can see why in this fan-made Dune crossover video that replaces Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides with Elmo.

The YouTube channel Sesame Swap asked a question everyone was thinking about: “What if Elmo faced the gom jabbar?” And the answer is the mean space witch has very little tolerance for his childish antics. Not because Elmo’s mother ignored their instructions and gave birth to a son, though. The Reverend Mother was likely salty before the test even started. Elmo absolutely burned her when he asked, “Why do you have a blanket on your face?” (Another important question that demands answers in Dune: Part 2.)

This video’s Elmo only adds to the silliness of the scene. It stars an uncanny valley/Times Square version of the iconic Sesame Street character. Elmo’s voice also leaves a little something to be desired. He sounds like the person playing him read a description of Elmo’s voice without ever actually hearing it. The whole thing makes you wonder whether Lady Jessica’s son really is the Lisan al-Gaib the Fremen of Arrakis are looking for. Because this Elmo gives off major false messiah vibes. And the last thing the galaxy needs is a religious war led by a fraud.

Not that it matters. This knockoff Elmo didn’t survive his test with gom jabbar. He won’t be leaving Caladan or Sesame Street anytime soon. Because while fear is the mind killer, a poison dart jabbed into your neck by a blanket-wearing witch is the entire body killer.

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To date, Frank Herbert’s game-changing sci-fi masterpiece Dune has had three adaptations. The currently in theaters version by Denis Villeneuve, the 2000 Sci-Fi channel (now SYFY) mini-series, and the 1984 David Lynch cult film. But in the early ’70s, before Star Wars made epic space opera mainstream, French/Chilean auteur (and problematic person) Alejandro Jodorowsky nearly did it first. He envisioned a 14 hour epic version of Dune with painter Salvador Dali as the Emperor, Orson Welles as the Baron Harkonnen, and a score by Pink Floyd. And now an book of concept art by Jean “Moebius” Giraud is up for auction.

Via Boing Boing, we learned that the Holy Grail of Jodorowsky’s unproduced Dune has resurfaced and will soon be up for auction. During Dune’s pre-production, iconic French comic artist Jean “Moebius” Giraud created an immense collection of set and character designs and an almost totally finished storyboard of the entire film. Jodorowsky and the film’s producers made only a few copies of his hardcover collection. They sent those off to Hollywood in hopes the art would convince a studio to greenlight the project. Which, of course, never happened.

But a handful of these books still exist. In a few weeks, Christie’s will auction off one of these extremely rare books (the producers made only 10). They officially titled this massive “phonebook of art” Michel Seydoux Presents Alejandro Jodorowsky’s Dune from Frank Herbert’s Novel. Christie’s expects the collection with Moebius’ work to sell for EUR 25,000 – EUR 35,000.

If you’ve ever seen the fantastic documentary Jodorowsky’s Dune, you’ve seen glimpses of some of the jaw-dropping art from Moebius. But sadly, this version of Dune never came to fruition. Nevertheless, the artwork by Moebius created for this project inspired every big-budget cinematic sci-fi epic for the next several decades. It’s perhaps the most influential film that never got made. The auction goes live at Christie’s on November 22. In the meantime, click on the official page for this auction to get a peek inside this enormous tome.

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Dune fans who watched the latest adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi classic and found themselves longing for a spice filled vacation to the desert planet may have some good news. Dan harnesses his desert power to take a closer look at the science behind whether or not humans could survive on the planet Arrakis on today’s episode of Nerdist Now!

Learn more about the Arrakis study here: https://bit.ly/3bSlZ7C

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Denis Villeneuve’s Dune a sweeping epic—or the first part of one. There’s so much going on that it takes a few watches to capture every detail. From the large ensemble cast, to the vast landscape, to the subtle foreshadowing. For most of the film, everyone wandering through Arrakis’ deserts exclusively wears stillsuits. Wearing anything other than the moisture-saving fit means certain death—if a sandworm doesn’t get you first. But the film’s first third features more lavish, regal looks for House Atreides. Before trading in their wardrobe for more desert-appropriate clothing. It does a lot to set up the family’s status. And, of course, their inevitable downfall. Dune‘s costume designer gave the Atreides looks inspired by the Romanov family to help tell their story.

Costume designer Bob Morgan shared in an interview with /Film that House Atreides’ looks were specifically modeled after those of a real-life doomed family. He shared that the costumes, especially those worn by Lady Jessica and her maidens, represented the contrast between House Atreides‘s life pre-Arrakis and the desert planet.

“A lot of wealth, a lot of power, and a bit of the Romanoffs [sic],”Morgan said. “We wanted to show they’re coming from a place of age and richness and moisture and grain oceans and wealth and establishment, and that was the thought behind their dress uniforms and her dresses in the beginning.”

Clothes very much represent our identities. In film costumes often have to do a lot of heavy lifting, saying a lot so the characters don’t have to. And a movie like Dune is already so dense, Part One only covered half the book. The clothes need to speak. That’s why it’s so fitting that Morgan modeled the House Atreides style off a famous family best known for their tragic downfall. It gives an immediate sense of foreboding to even those who haven’t read the book yet.

Of course, the Romanovs, for anyone who aren’t familiar with the Russian family, were Russia’s ruling family. Tsar Nicholas II was the country’s last emperor. Bolsheviks imprisoned the Tsar, his wife, and their five children in 1917, brutally murdering them a year later. Their disappearance remained shrouded in mystery for decades, and their downfall became something of a legendary—almost mythologized—tragedy.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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And, in short, that answer is… Yes. According to an article written in The Conversation, “much of Arrakis itself would indeed be habitable, albeit inhospitable.” Here’s how the scientists arrived at this conclusion.

Warner Bros./Legendary/Climate Archive

Using climate change technology, the team set out to see how “the physics and environment of such a world would stack up against a real climate model.”  At the core, the scientists elected to keep the fundamental physical laws of their model the same as Earth’s ones. Then, using information from the novels and The Dune Encyclopedia, they filled in details about the planet’s topography, orbit, and atmosphere. After that, all they could do was wait and see.

After the model was finally complete, the scientists found the climate of Arrakis was basically plausible. The model and the narrative in the books do diverge a bit. However, Frank Herbert created a remarkably accurate universe.

Warner Bros./Legendary

The article shares:

Could humans survive on such a desert planet? First, we must make an assumption that the human-like people in the book and film share similar thermal tolerances to humans today. If that’s the case then, contrary to the book and film, it seems the tropics would be the most habitable area. As there is so little humidity there, survivable wet-bulb temperatures – a measure of “habitability” that combines temperature and humidity – are never exceeded.

The mid-latitudes, where most people on Arrakis live, are actually the most dangerous in terms of heat. In the lowlands, monthly average temperatures are often above 50-60°C, with maximum daily temperatures even higher. Such temperatures are deadly for humans… Cities like Arrakeen and Carthag would suffer from both heat and cold stress, like a more extreme version of parts of Siberia on Earth which can have both uncomfortably hot summers and brutally cold winters.

Climate Archive

Ultimately, the scientists come away impressed. They share that Herbert wrote the first Dune book in 1965, well before the first climate model was published. “Herbert did not have the advantage of modern supercomputers, or indeed any computer,” they note. And, taking that into account, “the world he created looks remarkably consistent six decades on.” You can check out the full Arrakis climate model here and zoom in on features such as temperature or wind speeds.

This confirms our suspicions that Dune showcases world-building at its finest. And now, science proves it as well. Three cheers for Arrakis.

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Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part One brings a faithful adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel to the big screen. The sci-fi film sets up a universe in the distant future; one with noble houses, political maneuvering, and the spice melange. We learn the Padishah Emperor is removing House Harkonnen from Arrakis, the planet where the precious and valuable spice comes from, and installing House Atreides. Already divided by an ancient feud, the Harkonnens and Atreides further clash over this change. The move to Arrakis spells disaster for House Atreides, leaving quite a lot on the shoulders of the young Paul. And along the way, we learn about the spice, Fremen, the Bene Gesserit, and more. If you’d like more information on the key topics in the movie, we have plenty of Dune explainers to help you out.

Spice

Spice is the most valuable substance in the Dune universe. Learn about its source, how it’s harvested, and its properties: What Is Spice in Dune and Why Is It Important?

Bene Gesserit

Warner Bros./Legendary

Lady Jessica is a Bene Gesserit. We see the Reverend Mother of the organization visit Jessica and her son Paul before they leave Caladan for Arrakis. Learn about the Bene Gesserit’s purposes, powers, and more: Who Are the Bene Gesserit in Dune?

Gom Jabbar Test of Humanity

When Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam visits Jessica, she administers the Gom Jabbar Test for Humanity. Learn about the gom jabbar, the reason for the test, and why the Reverend Mother gives the test to Paul: What Is Dune‘s Mysterious Gom Jabbar Test?

The Litany Against Fear

In Dune: Part One, we hear Lady Jessica say an adapted version of the Litany Against Fear. It’s from a Bene Gesserit rite. Learn the entire litany: What Is Dune‘s Litany Against Fear?

Mentat

Warner Bros./Legendary

Some people in the Dune universe are trained to basically be human computers known as Mentats. Learn about what Mentats can do and how one becomes a Mentat: Who Are the Mentats in Dune?

Arrakis

A desert planet, home of spice and the Fremen, Arrakis sits at the center of Dune. In fact, Arrakis also goes by Dune. Learn about Arrakis’ history, inhabitants, and more: Everything You Need to Know About Arrakis from Dune

Fremen

Fremen live on Arrakis in unknown numbers. They survive in the planet’s inhospitable desert. Learn more about their origins and their relationship with the spice melange: Who Are the Fremen in Dune?

Sandworm

Warner Bros./Legendary

The Fremen don’t live in Arrakis’ deserts alone. Sandworms call the vast dunes home, too. The massive creatures play a key role in the story. Learn more about where they live and why they’re so integral: What You Need to Know About Dune‘s Sandworms

Kwisatz Haderach

Dune is a Chosen One story, but in this tale, the Chosen One is called the Kwisatz Haderach. Learn the meaning of the phrase, why the Bene Gesserit want the Kwisatz Haderach, and if it’s Paul Atreides: What Is Dune‘s Kwisatz Haderach?

Glossary of Dune Terms

If you need to look up a word you heard in the film, we have you covered: A Glossary of Important Terms in Dune

Important Dune Characters

Warner Bros./Legendary

Didn’t quite get enough of the characters on-screen in Dune: Part One? Here you go: A Glossary of Every Important Character in Dune

Dune Pronunciation Guide

Talking about Dune with your friends? Get the names right with this guide: How to Pronounce Everything in Dune

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

The post All the DUNE Explainers You Might Need appeared first on Nerdist.

The story follows Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), whose family moves to the desert planet of Arrakis to rule on assignment from the emperor. The planet is home to the most precious material in the known universe: spice mélange, which—when ingested—gives its taker superhuman abilities. House Atreides isn’t just sent to Arrakis for the hell of it, though. As Paul and his family come to suspect, they are walking into a dangerous political trap. The trap was partially concocted by the Bene Gesserit, a secretive order of women trained to maximize their mental and physical powers. The Bene Gesserit not only pull the strings, they also breed leaders and heroes. They are often called witches by those who fear and mistrust them.

Warner Bros. / Legendary

In Dune, Paul Atreides is the result of the Bene Gesserit breeding program. His mother, Jessica—who is a a member of the Bene Gesserit order—was meant to give Paul’s father, Duke Leto II, a daughter. This daughter would go on to birth the Kwisatz Haderach, a male who was genetically designed to unlock memories of mankind. But Jessica betrayed orders and gave Leto a son instead. Paul is still likely the Kwisatz Haderach, only born a generation early. He is therefore a disruption in the Bene Gesserit grand plan, throwing their prescience out of whack. This puts the women on edge—something illustrated both beautifully and frighteningly in the film.

Villeneuve’s Dune brings the Bene Gesserit to life in a frightening, harrowing way. Their depiction is a key reason Dune: Part One stands out from the pack. They are its secret weapon, in a sense. Their appearance—namely, Charlotte Rampling’s haunting scenes as one of their leaders, the Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam—lends the story a witchy edge. When we first see them, it is on Caladan at night. They arrive in a black, egg-like ship cast in shadows. They wear tall black hats and black sheaths. The soundtrack utilizes female voices that sound like whispers and later, when they depart, screams. The film feels like a horror film when they or the Reverend Mother show up.

Warner Bros. / Legendary

The Bene Gesserit are also foundational to Paul’s story. Jessica chose to raise him in their way, so he has their power, which he practices throughout the film. When the Bene Gesserit come to Caladan, it is to challenge his training. Using the Gom Jabbar needle as a threat, the Reverend Mother test Paul’s response to pain using a metal box. He passes with flying colors, but the Reverend Mother is still not impressed. When Jessica asks why she went so hard on her son, the Reverend Mother replies: “You chose to train him in the way, in defiance of our rule. He wields our power. He had to be tested to the limits. So much potential wasted in a male.” She also notes that the Bene Gesserit have “other prospects” if he fails to become the Kwisatz Haderach.

This touch of destiny is common to any chosen one narrative, but the Bene Gesserit make Paul’s journey in Dune more complex. Because he knows in their ways, he is in touch with his femininity. He carries it with him, and it’s present in the film. We hear him speak in the Voice, a psychic communication the Bene Gesserit use. It sounds like a feminine hiss, even when he uses it. Paul is not just a man accepting his terrible destiny. He is heavily in tune with the feminine energies of the galaxy; both great and wicked.

Warner Bros. / Legendary

Witches are coming to power again in other properties. Think Wanda and Agatha in the MCU’s WandaVision, or Sabrina, who’s headed to Riverdale. But the Bene Gesserit in Dune are something different. They make this seemingly male-centric narrative something more bewitching and complex. Paul carries their power—his mother’s power, in many ways more important than his duke father’s—with him. They also demonstrate the intricacies of the feminine; the power and the darkness. Dune is already heavy with theme and purpose. Its witchiness is just another asset.

The post DUNE’s Secret Weapon Is Its Witchiness appeared first on Nerdist.

Frank Herbert’s Dune presents a dense world full of political plotting and backstabbing. The Bene Gesserit puppeteer much of that from the shadows, laying out plans that stretch across centuries. Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part One brought that to the screen by showing the Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam discussing it in plain text with Lady Jessica. The Reverend Mother scolded Jessica for straying from the Bene Gesserit’s plan to bear Duke Leto Atreides a daughter. Jessica chose to have a son, prompting the Reverend Mother to say, “You were told to bear only daughters, but you and your pride thought you could produce the Kwisatz Haderach.”

The term “Kwisatz Haderach” comes up throughout the film in regards to Paul Atreides. Here’s everything you need to know about the Kwisatz Haderach. And yes, it’s spoiler-free.

What Is a Kwisatz Haderach?

Warner Bros./Legendary

Essentially, the Kwisatz Haderach is a messiah and superbeing. In the Dune universe, Kwisatz Haderach is an old Chakobsa term that translates to “shortening of the way.” The Kwisatz Haderach must be male. The Bene Gesserit have been carving the way for the mythical figure for centuries through selective breeding—10,000 years of breeding to be precise. Their plan was to breed the daughter of Duke Leto Atreides to a Harkonnen male (specifically Feyd-Rautha, Baron Harkonnen’s nephew) to create the Kwisatz Haderach and unite the houses. Hence why the Reverend Mother didn’t seem thrilled about Lady Jessica birthing a son instead and potentially bringing the messiah to the universe a generation too early.

What Is the Kwisatz Haderach’s Purpose?

Warner Bros./Legendary

The Kwisatz Haderach will help the Bene Gesserit access more knowledge and power. That’s it in a sentence anyway. The Bene Gesserit can use spice melange to access genetic memory—but only maternally. Since Bene Gesserit, who are always female, only have X chromosomes, they can access strictly X chromosome memories. These memories of their ancestors help guide their machinations across the Dune universe.

But a male Kwisatz Haderach could tap into maternal and paternal genetic memories. He could access unprecedented amounts of information and possess wildly powerful mental powers. And then the Bene Gesserit would, of course, have control over this male and could use him to look into the future, among other things. Given that they spent so many thousands of years seeking to create the Kwisatz Haderach, the figure clearly has a lot of importance.

Is Paul Atreides the Kwisatz Haderach?

Warner Bros./Legendary

Paul Atreides sure seems to be the Kwisatz Haderach. He shows enough promise that the Reverend Mother visits Caladan to administer the test of the gom jabbar. In the books, that happens when Paul is 15. Dune: Part One doesn’t call out Paul’s age, but he appears a bit older. The point is: Paul showed signs of being the Bene Gesserit’s messiah at a young age. He’s having visions, though some of the visions only show possible futures rather than what will absolutely come to pass. Paul certainly seems to know things he shouldn’t know, too—like how to perfectly put on a Fremen stillsuit.

However, the Reverend Mother tells Jessica they have “other prospects” besides Paul. Whether this is true or is further Bene Gesserit manipulation remains to be seen.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist and the author of A Kid’s Guide to Fandom, available now. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

The post What Is DUNE’s Kwisatz Haderach? appeared first on Nerdist.

The first part of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune adaptation recently swept into theaters, shaking the box office like a massive sandworm. The take on Frank Herbert’s 1965 sci-fi novel brought Paul Atreides’ (Timothée Chalamet) story to life on the big screen against an epic background. The visually striking film showcased the scope and depth of Herbert’s world. But it only covered the first part of Dune, leaving more than half the book to explore (the book is split into three parts). Happily, fans will see what happens after Paul and his mother Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) join the Fremen in the desert, because Legendary and Warner Bros. have announced Dune: Part Two.

Legendary

Villeneuve will return to direct. He said in a 2020 interview about Dune, “The story is so rich and complex that, in order to be faithful to the book, we’ll need to make at least two movies. That was a deal right at the start.” And now he’s getting his wish. He said in a statement:

“I just received news from Legendary that we are officially moving forward with Dune: Part Two. 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.”

We’re glad to get more of Villeneuve’s Dune-iverse. Part two in the novel Dune sees more action and political intrigue. The young Paul has to navigate living with the Fremen. And many of the Fremen view him as their Lisan al Gaib, a.k.a. a messiah. Besides learning the way of the Fremen and plotting how to avenge House Atreides, Paul has the whole Harkonnen problem to address. The noble house may believe Paul is dead… but will that last? And we can easily see Villeneuve incorporating part three of the book into Dune: Part Two.

Seeing the careful consideration Villeneuve gave to bringing Herbert’s world to the screen, I look forward to seeing him continue the story. Dune: Part Two will undoubtedly add new key characters too—characters like Princess Irulan, daughter of the Padishah Emperor. I can’t wait to see costume designer Jacqueline West tackle Irulan’s ensembles, assuming, of course, West returns for Part Two.

Warner Bros. Pictures Group Toby Emmerich says Dune: Part Two will arrive in theaters in October 2023. We don’t know if this will cover the remainder of the book or if a third part is yet to come. The spice must flow.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist and the author of A Kid’s Guide to Fandom, available now. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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We knew we’d leave Denis Villeneuve’s Dune wanting more as soon as its title card included “Part One.” And it sure did, as the fate of House Atreides, Arrakis, and the entire universe still hangs in the balance. But forget the future of the franchise. There are plenty of questions we have about the film itself. The movie featured loads of world-building, lore, visions, and whispering. And with so many hard-to-understand terms, it wasn’t always easy to follow what was happening even when you heard everything. So we’re here to clear up the movie’s most important, most mysterious, and most confusing parts by looking at the Dune: Part One questions we have.

Warner Bros./Legendary

We’re doing that by sticking to what we saw and heard in the movie—and only this movie—as much as possible. We’re not using Frank Herbert’s book wherever we can help it. Nor are we looking at David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation. This Dune must stand on its own. It must sandwalk on its own too.

What Is Spice and Why Is It So Valuable?

Warner Bros./Legendary

Spice is a rare psychoactive chemical that makes interstellar space travel possible. Navigators of the Spacing Guild use it “to find safe paths between the stars,” as spice makes interstellar travel possible. That’s what makes it the “most valuable substance” in the whole universe. Giant harvesters pull spice (mostly at night) from the dangerous sands of Arrakis where it is found.

To the native Fremen though, spice is a “sacred hallucinogen which preserves life and brings enormous health benefits.” Long exposure to spice is what gives the Fremen their signature bright blue eyes. Spice is clearly more than just an interstellar fuel or even a drug though. It opened up something in Paul. Being close to spice resulted in him having powerful visions of his future.

Additional Reading: What Is “Spice” in Dune and Why Is It So Important?

What Are Sandworms?

Warner Bros./Legendary

Growing up to 400 meters long, the sandworms of Arrakis live deep below the sand and only come to the surface when they feel rhythmic movement. The Fremen also call them by another name entirely: Shai-Hulud. The planet’s natives also revere them, as Dr. Kynes said before her death to a sandworm she knows “only one master: Shai-Hulud.”

The Fremen developed a sandwalk, an uneven, non-rhythmic walk that more resembles a dance, to avoid attracting sandworms. They also use thumpers in the sand to redirect the enormous worms. But the film’s final scene showed the Fremen do not need to fear sandworms completely. Some have mastered the art of riding them like a horse. (A snake-like horse you can stand on.)

Additional Reading: What You Need to Know About Dune’s Sandworms

What Was the Emperor’s Plan?

Warner Bros./Legendary

Oscar Isaac’s Duke Leto Atreides initially believed the Emperor gave House Atreides stewardship of Arrakis to start a war between Atreides and Harkonnen. He saw the plan has a clever attempt to weaken both Houses, which each posed a unique threat to the Emperor.

For 80 years House Harkonnen ruled Arrakis. It controlled the entire spice trade and became wealthier than the Emperor himself. However, this is not what frightened (the unseen) Emperor Shaddam IV of House Corrino the most. He feared the growing power and influence of House Atreides over the other Great Houses. “The Atreides voice is rising, and the Emperor is a jealous man,” said Stellan Skarsgård’s Baron Harkonnen. “A dangerous, jealous man.”

Dangerous and jealous enough to destroy an entire family and its allies. The Emperor took Arrakis from the Harkonnen to destroy House Atreides. First it got House Atreides away from its home world of Caladan, a world unlikely to fall to an attack. Even had the Emperor attacked Caladan the invasion would have been too public. Instead the Emperor put Atreides on an inhospitable world it knew little about and was not ready to defend. Air and sea power is not much help on a desert world.

Warner Bros./Legendary

Ultimately Duke Leto learned the Emperor conspired with the Harkonnen to wipe out House Atreides for good. All because the other Great Houses looked to Atreides for leadership. The Emperor was so concerned about destroying House Atreides he had his own Imperial army, the Sardaukar, aid Baron Harkonnen’s invasion of Arrakis to “strengthen” the Baron’s hand. Even though that move came with its own dangers. Before he died, Duke Leto said this type of invasion by the Emperor and his Sardaukar is exactly what the Great Houses fear. If word gets out—and is believed—the Sardaukar attacked Atreides, it will likely mean all-out war between the Imperium and the other Great Houses.

The film also suggests the Emperor’s deadly scheme might be partially driven by his fear of Paul Atreides. The Bene Gesserit’s Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam, Truthsayer to the Emperor himself, was aware of the Emperor’s plan. It’s possible the Emperor knows Paul might be the prophesied Kwisatz Haderach and wanted to kill him and all his supporters before Paul became too powerful. And while the Reverend Mother had Baron Harkonnen assure the safety of Paul and his mother, Lady Jessica, the Baron knew the pair would be dangerous if allowed to live. He tried to keep his sacred promise not to harm them by exiling the pair to the sands of Arrakis, where the desert itself would kill them.

Additional Reading: Everything You Need to Know About Arrakis from Dune

Who Are the Bene Gesserit and What Do they Want?

Warner Bros./Legendary

The powerful group of women, referred to as witches by one character, have tremendous power—both their own innate abilities and politically. They can will others to do their bidding by speaking to them in an unnatural pitch; it’s known as the Voice. They also “steer the politics of the Imperium from the shadows.”

Dr. Yueh warned Paul about the group before Paul met with the Reverend Mother. “The Bene Gesserit say they serve the greater good,” Yueh told him. “But, meaning no disrespect to your Lady mother, they also serve their own designs.” Lady Jessica, a member of the Bene Gesserit, told her son Paul what those designs are.

“For thousands of years, we’ve been carefully crossing bloodlines to bring forth a mind powerful enough to breach space and time, past and future, who can help us into a better future. We think he’s very close now. Some believe he is here.”

Paul might be that powerful mind. Lady Jessica defied her order and had a son for that exact reason. But what does being The One entail?

Additional Reading: Who Are the Bene Gesserit in Dune?

What Is the Kwisatz Haderach?

Warner Bros./Legendary

For centuries the Bene Gesserit carefully worked to bring about the The One. This prophesied hero, the Kwisatz Haderach Lady Jessica spoke of, will be a son born to a member of the Bene Gesserit. He will also have “The Sight,” allowing him to see beyond himself and the present.

The Fremen have another name for this hero. They call him the Lisan al-Gaib, which means a “Voice from the Outer World.” This hero will be their Messiah. And while Paul exhibits many of the traits of the Lisan al-Gaib, it’s impossible to know just yet if the Fremen really believe this is their moment of revelation or if they have simply been conditioned to believe it is.

Additional Reading: What Is Dune’s Kwisatz Haderach? 

What Did the Bene Gesserit Do on Arrakis Before Paul Arrived?

Warner Bros./Legendary

“On Arrakis we have done all we can for you. A path has been laid. Let’s hope he doesn’t squander it.”

The Reverend Mother and the Bene Gesserit told the Fremen all the ways the newly arriving Paul would match the prophecy of the Lisan al-Gaib. They preconditioned the Fremen to see Paul as their savior. And that’s exactly what happened. The cried out “Lisan al-Gaib” when he arrived. Shadout Mapes gave Lady Jessica her crysknife because she believed Paul was the Messiah. Stilgar said “I recognize you” when he met the Duke’s son. And, after the young Atreides instinctively knew how to wear his stillsuit, Dr. Kynes said, “He shall know your ways as though born to them.” The Fremen see the signs that point to Paul and the prophecy.

It’s not clear yet whether Paul actually is The One, or merely stands in that role because the Bene Gesserit made the Fremen think he is? The Reverend Mother herself isn’t sure. “Our plans are measured in centuries. We have other prospects if he fails his promise,” she said. Whether or not Paul is the Kwisatz Haderach or just a powerful child though, he clearly possesses some of the hero’s traits.

Additional Reading: Who Are the Fremen in Dune? 

Why Don’t Paul’s Dreams and Visions Always Come True?

Warner Bros./Legendary

Paul’s dreams and visions are not always harbingers of the future to come. They’re visions of potential futures. Paths he might follow. Like how on a different path he would have been close friends with Jamis, who Paul killed in one-on-one combat at the end of the film. (Another vision showed Jamis killing Paul instead.)

The future is not written for any. But Paul can see what might be.

What Did Lady Jessica Whisper During Paul’s Test?

Warner Bros./Legendary

During one of the hardest scenes to hear, Lady Jessica stands guard outside the room where the Reverend Mother is testing Paul’s humanity. Here’s exactly what she says:

“I must not fear. I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings obliteration. I will face my fear and I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”

She repeats much of this mantra later in the film aboard an ornithopter, when her and Paul are caught in a dangerous sandstorm.

Additional Reading: What Is Dune’s Litany Against Fear?

Whose Voices Does Paul Hear?

It’s never explicitly said, but those voices Paul hears throughout the film sound like the Bene Gesserit. The voices sound unnatural, like when the Bene Gesserit command someone to do something.

Additional Reading: A Glossary of Important Terms in Dune

What Did the Spice Show Paul?

Warner Bros./Legendary

Paul has many dreams and visions that prove ominous, like Duncan Idaho’s death. As well as ones that serve as warnings, like when he saw Jamis killing him in combat. But spice causes him to have his two most important visions.

The first is his own death at the hands of Zendaya’s Chani. Only he somehow knew that vision did not portent his actual death—simply that she will give him a knife. This ultimately proved true in an unexpected way. Chani did give Paul a knife, the one he used to kill Jamis. And by murdering Jamis, Paul murdered the person he was. “When you take a life you take your own,” said a voice.

(That vision also made clear to Paul his mother is pregnant. Could that child end up being the Kwisatz Haderach if Paul is not The One?)

Warner Bros./Legendary

The second major vision Paul had took place inside the tent with his mother. This vision terrified Paul. It had him asking for someone to help him. Here’s the terrible future he saw:

“I see a holy war spreading across the universe like unquenchable fire. A warrior religion that waves the Atreides banner in my father’s name. Fanatical legions worshipping at the shrine of my father’s skull. A war in my name. Everyone shouting my name.”

This possibility haunted Paul so much he later suggested a diplomatic solution to his issues with the son-less Emperor. He would marry one of the Emperor’s daughters and eventually ascend to the throne. He even invoked the idea he is the Lisan al-Gaib to Dr. Kynes to justify his offer. But from what we’ve seen about how Paul’s visions can come true in unexpected ways, this might be how he ends up on a path where he leads a holy war across the universe.

Additional Reading: What Is Dune’s Mysterious Gom Jabbar Test

Who Died and Who Possibly Survived?

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Definitely Dead

Duke Leto
Piter de Vries
Dr. Yueh
Dr. Liet Kynes
Jamis

Implied Dead/Possibly Alive

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Everyone from House Atreides, except Paul and Lady Jessica. That includes Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin) and Thufir Hawat (Stephen McKinley Henderson). However, neither of those important characters died on screen, so it’s very possible both are still alive. Gurney’s heroic rush into battle ended so abruptly and without closure that his survival almost seems likely.

Probably Dead, But It’s Weird

Warner Bros./Legendary

Duncan Idaho seemingly died, only to rise up and kill more Sardaukar. Why would the fact he died a second time guarantee anything? Especially on a planet with magical space dust. And also: Jason Momoa was so good in the role. It certainly appeared as though Duncan Idaho definitively died. But that entire sequence was weird enough to make us question it.

Additional Reading: A Glossary of Every Important Character in Dune

How Much of the Book Does Dune: Part One Cover?

Frank Herbert’s original 1965 novel is split up into three “books.” Part One of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune adapts almost exactly half the book, or Part One of the book, ending right near the middle of the second book in the novel.

Why Doesn’t Anyone Say, “The Spice Must Flow?”

Warner Bros./Legendary

No one says this in Herbert’s novel. This line is famous because of David Lynch’s 1984 big screen adaptation.

Will There Be a Part Two?

UPDATE: Yes! Legendary announced Part Two will come to theaters in October 2023. Which is great for a whole lot of reasons. But especially now that we understand Dune: Part One so much better.

Now we just need to know if the third film Denis Villeneuve wants will happen.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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Which moments from the book didn’t make it into the movie? You don’t need prescient visions to find out. Dune stars Josh Brolin (Gurney Halleck) and Javier Bardem (Stilgar) discuss scenes that didn’t make it into the film, what it was like reading the book when they were younger vs as adults, their first day on set vs their last, and more on today’s episode of Nerdist Now!

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When a blockbuster arrives in theaters the film’s stars do press, including the late night circuit. That’s just Hollywood Promotion 101 and everyone does it. Those interviews tend to blend together and aren’t particularly noteworthy. But super nerd Stephen Colbert didn’t just want to speak to Dune‘s young stars from the comfort of his desk. He wanted a more immersive, more authentic conversation. So he spiced up his talk with Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya by speaking to them on Arrakis.

Forget couches and an air conditioned studio. Stephen Colbert opted for sand and heat when he welcomed Dune‘s two young stars to the show. Okay, so maybe he didn’t actually meet them Arrakis. It was a green screen. But The Late Show did commit to the bit by having the sound of wind play throughout the lengthy interview. An interview that was also long on insight and fun. Chalamet and Zendaya have just as much chemistry off-screen as they do on it, and they clearly enjoyed talking about making the movie and working with one another.

CBS

Our favorite highlights include Zendaya saying she was nervous at her audition. But for a very strange reason: she feared dry socket (which Chalamet knew nothing about) after getting her wisdom teeth out not long before the audition. Director Denis Villeneuve really should have reminded her fear is the mind killer. Though from the sound of, it his stars had no complaints about working with him. Just the highest of praise.

The two stars also discussed chafing and how the suits that cooled the characters did the opposite for the actors. And they mentioned how they made fart jokes to ease the tension on set and handle the pressure of filming.

They also played a way-more-entertaining-than-you’d-imagine game called “Duner Or Later.” Colbert quizzed them on whether something or someone was older or younger than Dune. 

Asking about dune buggies is impossibly funny. And yet not as funny as Colbert asking about himself.

Of course, Colbert also wanted to know the most important question: will there be a second part? Even Chalamet and Zendaya don’t seem to know for certain yet. But since they’re already on Arrakis they should probably just start filming now to get the ball going. The sequels must flow. Two of them at least.

But if (when, really) it does happen, someone please remind super nerd Stephen Colbert that if he interviews the cast from the sands of Arrakis you can’t walk around normally. That’s how you attract sandworms.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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I don’t know much about Dune. At some point, an old witch (?) threatens a young man with death. All because he might remove his hand from a box of pain. Also, Frank Herbert’s 1965 book totally ripped off sandworms from Tim Burton’s 1988 movie Beetlejuice. And, based on the random, non-consecutive 15 minutes of David Lynch’s film I’ve seen, everyone is fighting with Sting over spice. Though I’m not positive if it’s frankincense or myrrh that must flow. So yeah, I don’t know a lot. However, I had no idea just how much I don’t know about that universe. It has 34,000 years worth of stories. Which I learned all about with this short video that covers the entire history of Dune.

This explainer (which we first saw at The AV Club) comes from the YouTube channel Quinn’s Ideas. It takes on Dune‘s long and complicated past in just nine minutes. Which the video’s own description makes clear is no easy task. Official sources don’t always agree. And specific dates are unknowable. But those issues are minor compared to the rich tapestry of Herbert’s universe. It’s one full of epic journeys, political intrigue, war, and family.

“House Atreides can trace its lineage back to ancient Greece. Though the Expanded Dune universe by Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson offers some contradicting dates and accounts to the Dune Encyclopedia the Encyclopedia provides the most comprehensive timeline of the dune universe. Though in the Original Frank Herbert Dune books Earth is lost in the mist of time the encyclopedia offers dates stretching all the way from humanities early beginnings on Earth to a few thousand years after the death of the God Emperor Leto the second, up until the in-universe publication of the encyclopedia itself in 15540 AG.”

Warner Bros./Legendary

It’s easy to see why hardcore Dune fans love Frank Herbert’s universe. There’s so much to explore and dig into. It’s not just a series of novels, it’s an entire world and history worth investing in.

And now that this video taught me Dune’s long history, I can finally focus on the details. Like why Sting left The Police to join a band with that creepy bald guy.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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We’re about to see Arrakis on the big screen in mere days. Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Dune looks epic. The trailers have teased the film’s sweeping landscapes and designs—a gorgeous backdrop for the story of Paul Atreides. The Dune art of book, The Art and Soul of Dune, will explore the movie in greater depth. Dune executive producer Tanya Lapointe wrote the book, so we have behind-the-scenes perspective from someone who was present throughout the making of the film. And in this exclusive book trailer, Lapointe presents The Art and Soul of Dune while sharing some memories and footage from set.

Lapointe worked closely with Villeneuve on this on-screen adaptation of Frank Herbert’s iconic novel. Who better to share a look at Dune‘s concepts and designs? Besides taking readers through the entire project, the book also includes interviews with Denis Villeneuve, Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, and many more.

Insight Editions

And The Art and Soul of Dune has something unique: a soundtrack. When Dune composer Hans Zimmer read the book, he told Lapointe he was going to write music for it. Zimmer’s music adds another layer of immersion to the Dune art of book. It makes the book more of an extension of the movie experience.

Insight Editions

If you’d like to add yet another layer, The Art and Soul of Dune also has a limited edition. It comes with an exclusive companion volume written by Josh Brolin (he’s playing Gurney Halleck) and Dune director of photography Greig Fraser. The book features candid and on-set photography along with Brolin’s recollections. Plus the special edition has a cloth cover featuring the symbols of House Atreides and House Harkonnen, and a reproduction of the Fremkit instruction booklet prop made for the movie.

The Art and Soul of Dune will be available on October 22 wherever books are sold. You can only snag the Limited Edition, however, from Insight Editions.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist and the author of A Kid’s Guide to Fandom, available now. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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What’s it like to be in the most anticipated movie of 2020 and 2021? Dune star Timothée Chalamet and director Denis Villeneuve discuss their favorite scene in the movie, potential sequels, and audience reactions on today’s episode of Nerdist Now!

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What’s it like being a part of the most anticipated film of 2020 and 2021? Dune Stars Oscar Isaac (Duke Leto Atreides) and Rebecca Ferguson (Lady Jessica) sit down with Maude Garrett to discuss whether fans should read the book before they see the movie, fan expectations, and what it’s like finally getting to see the movie on the big screen on today’s episode of Nerdist Now!

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Defensive shields. Armies. Sandworms. So many ornithopters. While Dune has quite a few cerebral moments focused on family honor, ecology, and political intrigue, it moves. The world of Dune comes equipped for battle. And with the intense rivalry between the Atreides and the Harkonnens, clashes feel inevitable. Especially since the spice melange is involved. The substance, which comes only from Arrakis’ deserts, is the Dune universe’s most important and valuable commodity. Having control of the spice means power.

Legendary/Warner Bros.

And that’s not even accounting for the ferocity of the elements. Sandstorms pose a regular threat on Arrakis, as do the massive sandworms that call the desert home. Sandworms large enough to swallow ‘thopters whole inhabit the sands, constantly posing a risk. The trailer shows off one particularly chilling gaping sandworm maw.

The world of Arrakis comes with much to fear. But as Paul’s voice says over the trailer, “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.” That’s part of the Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear. From what this footage shows of Paul’s tough road ahead, he’s going to have to hold that litany close to his heart.

Dune arrives in theaters on October 22, 2021. We for one cannot wait.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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What did it take to get Jason Momoa to shave his beard? Dune stars Jason Momoa (Duncan Idaho) and Sharon Duncan-Brewster (Liet Kynes) sit down with Maude Garrett to discuss their experience working with the movie’s all-star cast, how much changed between their first day on set vs their last, and filming on location on today’s episode of Nerdist Now!

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Many thousands of years in the future, people harvest spice on the desert planet of Arrakis. Thanks to its various properties, including that it aids in interstellar transport, it’s one of the most valuable raw materials in the galaxy. When Dune begins, the Emperor has just awarded House Atreides control of Arrakis. The appointment gives them profits from the sale of spice, but also the responsibility of maintaining production at a high enough level to support the needs of the Imperium. As the former rulers of Arrakis, House Harkonnen, plot to reclaim the planet, House Atreides’ heir, Paul (Timothée Chalamet), grapples with his political duties as a future duke, his Bene Gesserit training, and his destiny as the prophesied Kwisatz Haderach, a fabled super being. Needless to say, a lot’s going on.

Warner Bros./Legendary

But by beginning his version of Dune on Arrakis rather than with Paul Atreides, Villeneuve centers the planet, its people (the Fremen, known for their distinctive blue eyes), and their long history of being exploited for their resources. It provides some much needed context to the story. That their desert planet comes across as a revolving door of oppression, with different occupying forces arriving and taking what they like from the planet, makes Arrakis an allegory for many oil-producing areas in the Middle East that outsiders have perpetually used solely to make a profit. It is a shame that Villeneuve doesn’t take the opportunity to cast any Middle Eastern or North African actors in the roles of the Fremen, given the obvious Arabic and Islamic influence on Dune as a whole.

That said, the actors featured in Dune are well-suited for their roles. Timothée Chalamet as Paul, Rebecca Ferguson as his mysterious and powerful mother Jessica, and Oscar Isaac as his noble-to-a-fault father Leto are perfectly cast as the venerable House Atreides. Chalamet in particular seems to be in his element. He a way to embrace epic blockbuster filmmaking without his indie movie aura feeling out of place. Chalamet feels poised to grow into the role and evolve alongside Paul, if Villeneuve adapts the rest of Dune.

Which leads to an open question: where does this film stand if, for whatever reason, they aren’t able to continue the story? Dune feels incomplete, for obvious reasons: Villeneuve designed it as just the first part of a larger narrative. But should it still function as a standalone film? If that’s the case, then Dune lacks in some regards. There’s certainly nothing satisfying about the conclusion of this film. In a lot of ways, it’s merely a preamble of things to come. So it’s difficult to judge Dune as a finished product when we haven’t seen all of Villeneuve’s vision.

Warner Bros./Legendary

What we have seen, however, is well-executed. This, more than any other film in 2021, really deserves the biggest possible screen. The set design and CGI work are both impeccable, creating an ambitious otherworldly landscape that looks flawless. Although the film has the standard science fiction visuals of spaceships and new planets filled with a rather unappealing gray and brown color palette, there are also a number of quirky touches that make Dune more dynamic. The ships with wings that make them look like dragonflies in motion, for example, or the Fremen settlements evoking imagery of ziggurats in ancient Sumer.

Dune may come across as something less than fully realized, given the realities of the production making it just a part of a whole rather than a self-contained narrative in its own right. But all the same, it’s hard to overlook the incredible attention to detail and pure craftsmanship. Unlike many other science fiction films, which have a tendency to let special effects bog them down, making them feel rather soulless, the CGI in Dune serves the larger story. And as a result it frees the actors to create unusually well-developed and engaging characters that feel completely alive. Dune has its fair share of flaws, but it is nonetheless the most ambitious and enjoyable space epic we’ve had in ages. That’s no mean feat, considering how utterly unfilmable this story has always seemed to be.

Rating: 4/5

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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The science fiction epic Dune is almost here! The all-star cast of Timothée Chalamet (Paul Atreides), Oscar Isaac (Duke Leto Atreides), Rebecca Ferguson (Lady Jessica), Josh Brolin (Gurney Halleck), Javier Bardem (Stilgar), Sharon Duncan-Brewster (Liet Kynes), Jason Momoa (Duncan Idaho), Dave Bautista (Glossu Rabban), Stellan Starsgård (Baron Vladimir Harkonnen), and director Denis Villeneuve all sit down with Maude Garrett to talk about the film. The first order of business: How exactly do you pronounce “Dune”? It might not be how you thought it was.

Nerdist Book Club – Dune Part 1: https://youtu.be/eFiGaMRNpSE

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Are you ready to join the Fremen? Virtually speaking, of course. Well, now you’ll have the opportunity to use the Weirding Way yourself. As we eagerly await the arrival of Dune in theaters and on HBO Max this October, fans of Frank Herbert’s world can now make themselves look like a citizen of the planet Arrakis. And all thanks to the new Dune avatar creator.

If you head on over to Dune-avatar.com, you can make yourself a compatriot of Paul Atreides, Lady Jessica, or Duncan Idaho. And we promise that Dune-avatar is not some upcoming crossover between Denis Villeneuve’s Dune and James Cameron’s Avatar. Because really, no one asked for that. Besides, a Dune/Star Wars crossover makes way more sense. What with similar desert planets and all.

dune-avatar.com

Similar to other avatar creators, the new Dune app lets you upload a photo of yourself to your mobile device or tablet and then pick your own desert garb. Do you want a fancy scarf to go with that armor? Now you can. As with most avatar creators, you also get to pick your skin tone, hair color, and length. And your eye color and eyewear, too! Remember, in the world of Dune, eye color is quite important. The bright blue eyes that come from ingesting too much Spice elevate one’s status in the saga.

The Dune-avatar app also lets you choose whether you wish your avatar to present as male or female. Or neither. It also lets you decide whether you want to go with a hood or without. For the record, we come down on team hood. It just says “desert warrior” to us a little bit more. As long as our avatar gets to spend some quality time with Oscar Isaac, we’re here for it.

Dune arrives in theaters and on HBO Max on October 22.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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The Sleeper has awoken! The highly anticipated feature film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune premiered at the Venice Film Festival on Friday to critical acclaim and very positive first reactions. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, the sweeping sci-fi saga tells the story of a young man, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), who discovers a great and terrible destiny awaiting him on the desert planet Arrakis against the backdrop of warring houses, political machinations, and murders most foul.

In advance of the Venice Film Festival, Nerdist and a small group of journalists caught up with Denis Villeneuve to pick his brain about tackling one of the most iconic sci-fi stories in history that has influenced so much modern pop culture. Although we had neither The Voice nor the Emperor’s Truthsayer, both proved unnecessary as the director was effusive in his answers about his inspirations for the film, his deep-seated love of Frank Herbert’s world, and his plans for the future.

Warner Bros.

Many fans know that Dune is a dense novel, full of plots within plots and story arcs within story arcs. Villeneuve’s adaptation is intended to be split into two parts in order to avoid overstuffing a single film and oversimplifying Herbert’s story. Dune’s initial theatrical release was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and there is no current release date for Dune Part II, which has yet to enter production.

iO9‘s Germain Lussier asked Villeneuve about what the timeline for production would look like if Dune Part II were to get a greenlight from Warner Bros. and Legendary sooner rather than later.

“The thing I will say is when you make a movie in two parts, necessarily when you do the first part, you have to know what you’re going to do in the second part,” Villeneuve explained. “I mean, it has been the structure. It has been dreamed. … So I would say that I would be fairly ready to go quite quickly.”

Warner Bros.

When it comes to movies of Dune‘s scale and scope, though, “quickly” is a relative term.

“We are talking about months,” Villeneuve added. “[If] there’s enthusiasm and the movie is greenlit sooner [rather] than later, I will say that I will be ready to shoot in 2022 for sure. 2022, for sure. I would love [to] because I am ready to go. And I will say that I would love to bring it to the screen as soon as possible, but we know [with] the first film, I really had time to make sure that it was exactly the way I wanted it to be. And I would love to have the same feeling when I make the second part. So that would be the priority. More quality will be the priority.”

Villeneuve revealed that he has envisioned not just a two-part adaptation of Dune, but its sequel novel Dune Messiah as well. In response to question by Screen Rant‘s Ash Crossan, Villeneuve said, “The thing I envision, the adaptation of two books, Dune and Dune Messiah. We decided to split the first novel in two, so now we are at three movies. Those movies are very long to make. For my mental sanity, I decided to just dream about three movies.”

Warner Bros.

However, if you’re already foaming at the mouth thinking about Bijaz, the Ghola, and stone burners, pump the brakes, pal. Although a third part is on Villeneuve’s mind, he remains firmly focused on finishing his adaptation of Dune.

“But, by the way, I’m not dreaming about Dune Messiah right now,” Villeneuve continued. “I’m focusing on launching Dune Part I, hoping that will be a Part II. That’s enough. I mean, doing the first one was by far the most challenging thing I ever done. I think that we were able to bring it to life because we all, me and the team, just did that for two and a half years, full-time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We were dreaming about Dune Part I. That’s the way I can make cinema. I cannot start to have a long term. I need to be there now and not think too much about the future.”

As for Dune Part II, Villeneuve promises that it will be even bolder and wilder than what audiences will see in the first film. In response to a question about the sequel’s scope from ComicBook.com‘s Brandon Davis, Villeneuve explained the unique challenge of adapting this story.

Warner Bros.

“The tough task here was to do introduce you guys to the world, to the ideas, to this world, to the codes, the cultures, the different families, the different planets,” Villeneuve said. “Now once this is done, it becomes an insane playground. So it will allow me to go berserk and really create… I should not say that, but I will say that, for me, Dune Part I is like an appetizer and Dune Part II is the main meal. … As much as Dune Part I was by far my most exciting project ever, Dune Part II is already getting me more, even more excited. That’s all I will say.”

Dune opens in theaters in the United States on October 22, 2021.

Editor’s note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

Dan Casey makes deeply silly videos at Nerdist and is the author of books about the Avengers and Star Wars. Talk to him on Twitter about the spice melange.

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The Dune references must flow! And flow they do in the latest video from our Nerdist Remix series.

Frank Herbert published Dune in 1965 and the sci-fi novel went on to have massive influence over the pop-cultural landscape. In the many years since its publishing, Dune has been referenced across genres and mediums. From other sci-fi films (hello, Star Wars!) to cartoons, comedies, and even music videos, new and old, Dune is easily one of the most alluded to properties around. With a new Dune live-action film around the corner, it’s a great time to celebrate the work. And so, we’ve put together a compilation of every major pop-cultural reference to the famous series.

These dozens of references paint a picture of  Dune‘s cultural importance. After all, what else could The Simpsons, Dragon Ball Z,  Silicon Valley, and SpongeBob SquarePants have in common? The breadth and depth of these references also speak volumes. A variety of lines, characters, and scenes from Dune appear in these other properties. Although certain themes do appear throughout the clips, such as “He who controls the…” and, of course, references to the infamous “spice,” Dune allusions have great range. It’s not just one idea or image replicated, it’s many. And, of course, it’s telling that both Dune‘s content and its actual existence receive homages. To delve even deeper into these Dune nods, don’t miss our additional breakdown of Dune references.

As Dune‘s canonical journey evolves, there’s no doubt it will only grow even more iconic. With Dune’s new film releasing on October 22, a host of new references is sure to emerge. We’re excited to see which parts of the new movie will serve as inspiration points. But one thing will always be true, “Sandworms, you hate ’em right? I hate ’em myself.”

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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Not sure if you’ve heard of Dune before? You must not fear! Nerdist has unleashed our editor and world’s biggest Dune fan, Matt Caron, to collect every single spicy pop culture reference to Dune. (Seriously, it’s all he talks about.) From The Simpsons to SpongeBob SquarePants, we’ve opened a whole can of sandworms. See how many references you can catch!

Edited by Matt Caron

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If you’re ready to face a sandworm to see Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, we have something to sate your appetite: The Art and Soul of Dune. The tome from Tanya Lapointe (executive producer on Dune) goes behind the scenes of the upcoming sci-fi film. Adapted from Frank Herbert’s seminal novel, the film looks like a sprawling epic in trailers. And The Art and Soul of Dune from Insight Editions will explore the filmmaking process with an emphasis on visuals from costume concepts to creature designs to set photos. It also has interviews with the cast and crew. We need this in our eyeballs immediately.

Insight Editions

The wildest feature though? Composer Hans Zimmer, who scored Dune, wrote a soundtrack specifically for The Art and Soul of Dune. Unsurprisingly, Zimmer has never scored a book before. Once the book’s out, you can download Zimmer’s soundtrack for free. I find it unbelievably cool that Zimmer wrote an exclusive soundtrack for this.

Insight Editions

Insight Editions has another option, too: The Art and Soul of Dune: Limited Edition. This version comes with some extras, notably that the first 700 copies will come with a signed and numbered signature card. The book has an exclusive cloth cover with foil-stamped House Atreides and Harknonnen symbols. A companion volume is also bundled with the Limited Edition; it features on-set photography by Dune director of photography Greig Fraser. One more cool addition: a “unique, cloth-bound reproduction of the Fremkit instruction booklet prop created for the movie, featuring 80 pages of exclusive, previously unseen art from the film.” All of it is packaged in a clamshell case with copper-stamped bespoke imagery. The Limited Edition costs $595.

Dune arrives in theaters on October 22, 2021. Both versions of The Art and Soul of Dune will be available on that same date. You can place a pre-order now.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist and the author of A Kid’s Guide to Fandom, available now. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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When you’re on Arrakis, the last thing you probably want to see is a sandworm. The massive, fierce creatures from Frank Herbert’s Dune terrorize those who carelessly wander into Arrakis’ vast deserts. They loom large over the planet, especially the native Fremen who coexist with them. We’re quite looking forward to seeing the sandworms on the big screen in Denis Villeneuve’s upcoming film adaptation. The teases in trailers show frightening sandworms so big it’s hard to wrap your head around. And merchandise is taking cues from the movie’s designs. Case in point: these sandworm bookends.

Dark Horse Direct

We first spotted these beauties from Dark Horse Direct and Legendary Entertainment at Polygon. The sculpture captures the rough skin texture you’d expect sandworms to have. Plus, look at all those teeth! A wave of sand splits the bookends so it will look like the sandworm is emerging around your books. The design gives the whole sculpt a sense of movement.

Dark Horse Direct

These sandworm bookends are the definition of statement pieces. Measuring over eight inches tall, eight inches wide, and six inches deep, they’ll definitely stand out on your bookshelves. And bonus: they won’t try to eat you! The polyresin pieces feature hand painting and impressive detail. Given the attention to every little sandworm tooth, the edition size is capped at 2,000. If you want these to hold up your collection of Dune books or anything else, you can place a pre-order now. Each set costs $149.99. They’re limited to two per customer.

Dune arrives in theaters on October 22, 2021. And as for these sandworm bookends? They’ll ship sometime between December 2021 and March 2022.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist and the author of A Kid’s Guide to Fandom, available now. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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What makes us so optimistic? Well, here is everything we know so far about the upcoming adaptation of the legendary novel, and you’ll understand why we’re so excited. And to start things off, we’ve also included the first Dune trailer for your viewing pleasure, as well as the film’s official synopsis:

“[Dune is] a mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, which tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.”

What Is Dune All About?

Warner Brothers/Legendary Pictures

Dune by the late Frank Herbert is perhaps the most important and influential science-fiction novel ever written. The 1965 novel is set in the far distant future, where select noble houses from different planets owe their allegiance to a powerful Emperor. Dune centers on a young man named Paul Atreides, whose family takes over stewardship of the desert planet Arrakis, also known as Dune. Arrakis is the only source of the spice melange, the most important and valuable substance in the universe, which allows hyperspace travel, among many other things. Dune is a very complex and sprawling story involving politics, religion, feuding noble houses, love, and betrayal

The Saga of the Previous Dune Adaptations

Warner Brothers/Legendary Pictures

The original book remains the world’s best selling science fiction novel, and spawned five more sequels from its original author. Its influence is vast; concepts from Dune are all over the Star Wars saga, for example. An argument can also be made that Game of Thrones is the fantasy version of Dune, with its squabbling noble houses and its central messianic figure. But the fortunes of Dune itself as a live-action property have been, so far, mostly a series of disappointments.

Celebrated Chilean filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky attempted to mount a lavish production of Dune in the early ’70s, one that would have involved participation from artists like H.R. Giger. Orson Welles and Salvador Dali agreed to star, and Pink Floyd was even going to do the soundtrack. Jodorowsky’s had a vision that wound up being too grand for a Hollywood where sci-fi was still considered a risky and unprofitable genre. In 2014, an amazing documentary called Jodorowsky’s Dune, detailing the film that never was, was released to great acclaim.

Sony Pictures Classics

After an attempt was begun and then abandoned by Ridley Scott, surrealist director David Lynch was hired by producer Dino De Laurentiis to take the helm of the adaptation in the early ’80s. Author Frank Herbert liked the finished product, but critics eviscerated the movie upon release in 1984, and the movie flopped.

Universal Pictures

Dune received a new adaptation in the year 2000, this time for TV. Syfy Channel (known then as the Sci-Fi Channel) produced six part mini-series called Frank Herbert’s Dune, which was a big enough ratings success that it spawned a sequel mini-series that combined elements of Herbert’s second and third novels. Its ratings proved there was an audience for this property, and in recent years, there were further attempts to bring it to life again on the big screen.

Who Is Making the New Dune?

Warner Brothers/Legendary Pictures

In November 2016, acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve announced that Dune would be his follow up project to Blade Runner 2049. Screenwriters Eric Roth and Jon Spaihts took on the script, based on Herbert’s classic 1965 novel. Herbert’s son Brian Herbert, who has written several Dune sequels himself, is also an executive producer. Sci-fi author Kevin J. Anderson is also serving as creative consultant.

Rogue One‘s Greig Fraser is the director of photography in the film, with Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer creating the film’s score. Villeneuve also re-teamed with several Blade Runner 2049 collaborators, including editor Joe Walker and visual effects supervisors Paul Lambert and Gerd Nefze. Costume designers Jacqueline West and Bob Morgan also signed on, as did production designer Patrice Vermette. Principal photography on Dune began on March 18th, 2019.

Will It Be One or Two Movies?

Warner Brothers/Legendary Pictures

Denis Villeneuve confirmed to Vanity Fair that yes, Dune will be split into two movies. Villeneuve said, “I would not agree to make this adaptation of the book with one single movie. The world is too complex. It’s a world that takes its power in details.” And if it’s a success, after that, there are five other books in the saga (and that doesn’t even include the sequels from Brian Herbert).

Who Is Starring in Dune?

Warner Brothers/Legendary Pictures

Call Me By Your Name star Timothée Chalamet, is Paul Atreides, the central figure of the saga. Dave Bautista, who worked with director Denis Villeneuve in Blade Runner 2049, is re-teaming with the director. He’s playing Glossu Rabban Harkonnen, nicknamed  “Beast,” the sadistic eldest nephew of a Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, overseer of the planet Arrakis.

Warner Brothers / Legendary Pictures

From one galaxy far away to another, Oscar Isaac is Duke Leto Atreides, father to the film’s main character, Paul Atreides. played by Rebecca Ferguson plays his wife Lady Jessica. Duke Leto’s taking over stewardship of the planet Arrakis is what sets the plot of Dune into motion, making his role a critical one.

Warner Brothers/Legendary Pictures

Oscar winner Javier Bardem has also joined the cast as Stilgar Ben Fifrawi, the leader of a the Fremen tribe that who aides Paul Atreides in his fight against the Harkonnens. Spider-Man: Homecoming actress Zendaya plays the role of Chani, a Fremen warrior native to Arrakis, who eventually becomes the romantic interest for Paul Atreides.

Warner Brothers/Legendary Pictures

From the depths of the sea to a waterless and dry world, Jason Momoa will play the role of Duncan Idaho in Dune. A swordsmaster who is eternally loyal to House Atreides, Duncan Idaho is also the only character to appear in all of the original novels in the Dune series, so should this become a long running franchise, Momoa will be splitting his time between the desert and the oceans for some time.

Warner Brothers/Legendary Pictures

We can also add Thanos and Cable himself, Josh Brolin. According to Variety, Brolin will be playing “Gurney Halleck, the warmaster for Chalamet’s family and a mentor to his character.” In the 1984 David Lynch Dune adaptation, that part was played by a pre- Star Trek era Patrick Stewart.

Warner Brothers/Legendary Pictures

Veteran actor Stellan Skarsgård, known for his many genre roles, including some in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Pirates of the Caribbean, will be playing the film’s primary villain. The grotesque Baron Vladimir Harkonnen oversees the planet Arrakis and seeks to remain in power over the incoming new stewards of the planet, the House of Atreides.

Actress Charlotte Rampling, a recent Oscar nominee who viewers might recognize from projects like Dexter and Red Sparrow, is also joining the cast, according to The Hollywood Reporter. She’ll be playing the crucial role of the Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam of the Bene Gesserit order, described as “the Emperor’s truthsayer, a person who can divine intentions, suss out lies and manipulate people’s emotional states.”

When Does Dune Arrive In Theaters?

The film will debut at the Venice Film Festival in September (via Variety), but it won’t arrive in theaters until October 22, 2021 (this is delayed from October 1).

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

Originally published July 31, 2018 with updates on October 5, 2020, June 17, and June 25, 2021.

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Denis Villeneuve’s upcoming adaptation of Dune isn’t just getting one soundtrack release. In fact, it’s getting three. Which sounds like a lot until you realize all of them will feature music from Hans Zimmer.

Thanks to at /Film, we learned that WaterTower Music announced is releasing three separate music albums “from and in celebration of” Dune. Each features Hans Zimmer’s original work for the film.

The first two hits stores ahead of the movie’s US debut on October 22. And the final album premieres the day Dune arrives in theaters. Notably, the soundtracks include:

• The Dune Sketchbook (Music from the Soundtrack): “Comprised of extended, immersive musical explorations of the Dune film score.” Additionally, both are available in Standard and Dolby Atmos Music configurations. The album is Zimmer’s first soundtrack released in Dolby Atmos Music.  The Sketchbook is available on September 3.
• Dune (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): Features “the iconic composer’s Dune film score.” And it will also be available in both Standard and Dolby Atmos Music configurations. It debuts on September 17.
• The Art and Soul of Dune: “The companion soundtrack to the book of the same title” offers uniquely crafted versions of the film’s main themes. Zimmer curates them to accompany the reader on their journey through a visually dazzling book written by the film’s executive producer Tanya Lapointe. The book offers unparalleled insight and exploration into the film. Get your copy on October 22.

Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures

“We agreed that the music would need to have a spirituality to it…a sanctified quality,” said Villeneuve in a statement. “Something that would elevate the soul and have the effect that only sacred music can. And I believe that is firmly present in Hans’ score.”

Zimmer also worked on Blade Runner 2049 with Villeneuve. That relationship, along with his passion for Frank Herbert’s story, is why he came aboard. “I absolutely love working with Denis,” says Zimmer. “He has an incredible imagination and offers so much heart and soul within the complexity of making a film of this magnitude, and our aesthetic is very comparable.”

Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures

“Dune has always been very close to both of our hearts. So the task was to figure out how we were going to interpret something we truly loved and admired and invite the audience to come and have their own personal experience. That was, for us, the reason to make this film.”

Villeneuve also said, “Hans spent months and months creating new instruments, defining, creating, and seeking new sounds, pushing the envelope.” Thus giving fans hours and hours of music to relive all their favorite Dune moments.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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We’re still abuzz from the epic trailer for Denis Villeneuve’s long-awaited adaptation of Dune. Some of us here at Nerdist literally won’t stop talking about it. Amid all the gorgeous and expansive visuals, and the vast roster of characters, we also got to hear some of Hans Zimmer’s evocative score. It’s not too far afield from the kind of thing he has done before (a lot of rhythm, a lot of sustained bass notes), but it feels unique in his canon. Especially at the end of the trailer, where we hear a striking female voice singing. It’s really cool. Well now the composer has shared that entire track, entitled “Paul’s Dream,” on his Instagram, also streaming on various platforms.

According to those who saw a special IMAX presentation of the first 10 minutes of Dune, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) has an intense dream about his future and the future of Arrakis. We see and hear bits of that in the trailer as well. The track which accompanies that dream shares its layers and intensity, culminating in that beautiful roar from the singer.

Warner Bros./Legendary

This was all part of Zimmer’s approach to the music of Dune. Also in that presentation, Zimmer said he constructed new instruments and instrumentation to reflect the setting. In the far future, he said, they wouldn’t have the same kinds of orchestral instruments as we do now. But, the human voice remains, which is why he focused on that. Specifically, he showcased the power of the female voice, along with deep, alien guttural sounds. We’re not gonna lie; it has us just as pumped as we were about the cool sci-fi vistas and vehicles.

We’re excited to check out more of Zimmer’s score, because if it’s all like this one track, we’re in for a real good sonic adventure.

Dune hits theaters in the US on October 22, 2021.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Twitter!

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The Sleeper awoke early this morning, Dune fans! And today the early bird caught the sandworm that is the epic new trailer for Dune. The sweeping sci-fi saga from director Denis Villeneuve hits theaters this fall, and this trailer gave fans their best look yet at what to expect from the big-screen adaptation of Frank Herbert’s iconic story. Hector Navarro is taking a closer look to break down all the Easter Eggs and hidden details you might have missed on today’s episode of Nerdist News.

Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks

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In September of last year, we got our first look at Denis Villeneuve’s Dune. That initial trailer set up the epic world based on Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel. And we see even more of the scope in the second trailer, which debuted early Thursday morning. This footage here highlights the journey and dangers a young Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) faces after his family moves to Arrakis, a seemingly desolate planet. It… doesn’t look great for House Atreides. After you’ve watched the trailer, hang out with us for a shot by shot breakdown.

And if you consider details from a 1965 novel to be spoilers, then you may want to hop aboard a ‘thopter and get out of here.

Warner Bros./Legendary

The trailer opens with a trio of ornithopters winging above the deserts of Arrakis. These lightweight transport vehicles are a common method of transport on the planet, ideal for human transport or light cargo.

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“My planet Arrakis is so beautiful when the sun is low.”

We hear Chani’s (Zendaya) voice. She’s a Fremen, natives of Arrakis. She has the blue within blue eyes indicating prolonged use of the spice melange. Fremen call this Eyes of Ibad. The spice is a drug and the most valuable substance in the Dune universe. Found only on Arrakis, the presence of the spice has meant trouble for the planet. We see it glitter across the surface of the sand.

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Chani discusses the beauty of her planet, but also its hardships. Outsiders come to ravage the world, plundering it for spice. There’s the arrival of House Harkonnen, our story’s villains. We see glimpses of Harkonnen troops harvesting spice and attacking a detachment of Fremen commandos clad in stillsuits, desert clothing designed to preserve moisture on a planet where water is in short supply.

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We briefly glimpse Beast Rabban (Dave Bautista) surveying a sea of Harkonnen forces. A pile of burning corpses indicates that perhaps the Fremen’s attack on the Harkonnen spice harvester wasn’t successful.

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And that sure looks like a bloody crysknife. The weapon, forged from the tooth of a sandworm, is sacred to the Fremen.

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But then Paul wakes up in his bed on Caladan. So as with the first trailer, Paul is dreaming of Chani and Arrakis. The young Atreides tells Duncan Idaho (Jason Momoa), House Atreides’ swordmaster, of his dreams. Idaho brushes off Paul’s concerns. He says, “Dreams make good stories, but everything important happens when we’re awake.” However, Paul is the son of a Bene Gesserit. He has the gift of prescience, and these dreams are not only dreams.

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Next we hear Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac) talk about House Atreides. “”We are House Atreides. There is no call we do not answer.” We see Leto gathered with Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) in Bene Gesserit robes and Paul in full dress uniform.

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During Leto’s voiceover, Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin), House Atreides’ master of war, spars with Paul. Holtzman shields flicker around their bodies. The defensive shields surround and protect those wearing them. But the attacks have to be over a certain velocity for the shield to work. Slow attacks can get through. The shield turns blue when the attack is too fast and red when a blow lands.

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And here’s an envoy of the Padishah Emperor in full dress uniforms. The Padishah Emperor is the ruler of the universe. He’s instructing the Atreides to take stewardship of Arrakis. This sparked Leto’s words about House Atreides’ loyalty. Because no, they really don’t get a choice in the matter. Leto explains they will do as the Emperor says.

At the foreground of the above image is the Judge of the Change, an Imperial officer charged with presiding over the change of planetary Fiefs, among other things. It looks like he’s holding an Imperial contract for Leto. The Spacing Guild, a.k.a. the Guild of Navigators, stands in the background. They have the monopoly on space travel and rely on spice to navigate. In fact, they have to breathe spice gas to survive, hence the helmets.

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The subsequent shots jump ahead to Arrakis with Paul in desert garb and also Lady Jessica standing in a cave with Fremen scripture. Jessica and Paul both go on to spend time with the Fremen. We think this particular shot is from when Jessica takes the Water of Life as part of the ritual to become the Reverend Mother of the Fremen. The substance is actually a toxic bile from young sandworms. If it doesn’t kill the person who drinks it, the bile converts into a narcotic that grants an expanded awareness and conscious. Prescience, Other Memory, enhanced awareness and sensory abilities—those are just some of the effects.

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Hello, Jamis (Babs Olusanmokun). Paul encounters Jamis, a Fremen of Sietch Tabr, early on and engages him in combat. Here he tells Paul, “Come with me.”

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Then… we think this is Salusa Secundus, a prison planet. This looks like a ceremony of some kind. Maybe prisoners “graduating” to the Sardaukar, the Emperor’s elite military force. And by elite we mean brutal and absolutely awful. However, this could also depict the Harkonnen soldiers on Geidi Prime.

While training Paul, Gurney notes to the youth that he’s never fought anyone like the Harkonnens before. Gurney practically growls about how brutal they are.

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We hear Dr. Yueh (Chang Chen) say, “The Duke’s son sees too much.” This glimpse of Yueh with Jessica and Paul on Arrakis is likely after an assassin failed to kill Paul.

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We get another peek at the horrendous Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård) and also Piter De Vries (David Dastmalchian). The latter is House Harkonnen’s Mentat, basically a human computer. They can use their sharp and powerful minds for good and evil, and if De Vries is aligned with Harkonnen well…

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And disaster. Arrakeen, the city where House Atreides resides, appears to be under attack. Including the destruction of their shield wall. You can see the glow of the shields in the above image. Paul states that the Harkonnens are exterminating them one by one.

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Harkonnen troops escort Dr. Wellington Yueh, and if you’ve read the book, you know what that means. Yueh is the Atreides’ personal physician and a trusted friend.

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After we watch Duncan Idaho take on a Sardaukar trooper, we get the most striking shot in the trailer: Paul and Jessica wandering through the desert. They’ve fled the danger in Arrakeen, but in the desert they face something potentially worse: a sandworm. The massive creatures call Arrakis’ desert home and can sense vibrations on the surface as part of hunting prey. Hey, even sandworms gotta eat.

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This looks like Paul’s first encounter with the Fremen. Perhaps even his scuffle with Jamis, who has zero patience for outsiders. Particularly not Paul.

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Here’s something incredibly cool: a Fremen with maker hooks. They use the hooks to ride sandworms across the surface of the desert. It looks like this Fremen is only waiting for a ride.

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Plus a look at Liet Kynes (Sharon Duncan-Brewster). Kynes serves as Arrakis’ Imperial Planetologist. She helps the Atreides get settled and understands the ecology of the desert planet. But something’s happening beyond the surface…

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While we see these scenes, we hear a conversation between Paul and Leto. Paul asks about his future, doubting that he can be the leader House Atreides needs. Leto, a very good dad, reassures him: “A great man doesn’t seek to lead. He’s called to it.”

We also hear Leto ask Jessica to protect Paul, which she vows to do. While those words ring out, we see this image of Jessica holding Fremen leader Stilgar (Javier Bardem) at an extreme disadvantage. She bests Stilgar in combat.

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And big yikes, this shot shows Duke Leto Atreides in custody. His personal Holtzman shield flashes red, which honestly, not the best sign. Nor is the bloody handprint on his left shoulder.

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A handful of shots illustrate Jessica and Paul settling into Fremen life. We see Chani and Paul go in for a kiss.

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The trailer ends with a jaw-dropping moment. We see an image of Paul in full battle armor, his eyes the same blue within blue as the Fremen. This is a vision of the future that lies before Paul as Muad’Dib, the prophesied leader of the Fremen people, leading his death commandos in an intergalactic crusade against all who stand in his way. While we will likely only see this teased in the form of a prescient vision in Dune: Part One, it is incredible to see it brought to life like this.

Dune arrives in theaters on October 22, 2021.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

Additional reporting by Dan Casey and Matt Caron.

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