Much like the sands of the vast deserts of Arrakis, movie release schedules are a constantly shifting minefield of competition for audience eyeballs and dollars. The latest shift has Warner Bros. releasing Dune: Part Two in theaters two weeks earlier than planned, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two was set to release on November 17, 2023. After this move, however, it will take the spot of the just-delayed Blade film from Marvel Studios, releasing on November 3, 2023.
2021's Dune covered roughly the first half of Frank Herbert's 1965 science fiction novel, from the Atreides family's departure from their home planet of Caladan to the House Harkonnen attack that left Paul and his mother Jessica on the run for their lives. Zendaya's character Chani figured heavily into the marketing for the film, but she only appeared in the final moments of the movie.
Dune: Part Two will feature returning cast members Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem. Joining the cast for the second half of the story are Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, Christopher Walken as the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV, and Austin Butler (Elvis) as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen. The film will presumably pick up where the first part left off, with Paul Atreides joining the Fremen and eventually leading them to victory over House Harkonnen and the Imperium to free Arrakis and the Fremen.
Dune pulled in over $400 million at the box office despite releasing during the COVID-19 Pandemic and appearing simultaneously on HBO Max. Villeneuve's film was also nominated for 10 academy awards, taking home six including Best Sound, Best Achievement in Visual Effects, and Best Achievement in Cinematography.
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