After two and a half years of waiting, the time has finally come tomorrow: Dune 2 opens in German cinemas. Here’s everything you need to know about the highly anticipated sci-fi sequel.
It’s the first big mega cinema event of the year: Dune: Part Two continues the story of the sci-fi saga created by Frank Herbert on the big screen. Once again, we are immersed in the grim desert world of the planet Arrakis, where the mighty houses of the universe fight over the most valuable resource: spice.
If you need a quick refresher on the events in Dune so far: We’ve summarized the most important info in all simplicity.
Before Dune 2: What’s happened so far in the sci-fi saga?
The story of Dune begins with Duke Leto Atreides being summoned to the desert planet Arrakis by the shady Emperor Shaddam IV. There he is to ensure that the spice production does not stop.
What is Spice? Spice is a type of drug. It boosts cognitive abilities, prolongs life and … gives you blue eyes. More importantly, it is the key to interstellar space travel
Here you can watch the trailer for Dune: Part Two:
It’s not long before the great antagonist, Baron Harkonnen, appears. He wants to wipe out House Atreides and attacks the Duke of Arrakis (with the Emperor’s blessing and fighters). As a result, Leto’s son, Paul, finds himself on the run with his mother, Lady Jessica, while his father dies.
The two find help from the Fremen, the natives of Arrakis. They have learned to harness the power of the desert for themselves, for example by riding the giant sandworms that the rest of the universe fears. They also believe in the arrival of a messiah, who is possibly Paul.
How does the story continue in Dune 2?
The first Dune ends in the desert of Arrakis. Paul and his mother join the Fremen and learn about their customs and culture. The Fremen leader Stilgar believes that Paul is the chosen one. Paul, on the other hand, wants revenge on Baron Harkonnen for the murder of his father. And Lady Jessica has her own plans.
More about the movie:
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Who are the most important characters in Dune 2?
Five parties play an important role in Dune 2. In addition to House Atreides and House Harkonnen, the movie places a large focus on the Fremen, who are made up of various tribes. In addition, the Emperor’s house, House Corrino, comes to the fore.
All important characters belonging to House Atreides:
(Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson and Josh Brolin)
Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet): The main character of the Dune story has joined the Fremen and is well on his way to fulfilling the Messiah prophecy, not least because of his visions of the future.
Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson): Paul’s mother and Leto’s concubine. She belongs to the Bene Gesserit order, an influential sisterhood that has guided events in the universe for centuries.
Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin): A former confidant of Paul’s father and his former combat instructor. After the Harkonnen attack, he fled into the desert and managed to survive as a spice smuggler.
All important characters who belong to the Fremen:
(Zendaya and Javier Bardem)
Chani (Zendaya): Is one of the few who welcomes Paul amicably into the Fremen circle. A shy love story develops between the two, even though she is skeptical about his calling as Messiah.
Stilgar (Javier Bardem): The Fremen leader is firmly convinced that the arrival of the Messiah is imminent. He places his trust in Paul, who is to unite the fundamentalist tribes in the south of Arrakis.
All the important figures belonging to the House of Harkonnen:
(Stellan Skarsgård, Austin Butler and Dave Bautista)
Baron Wladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård): The villain is really only interested in one thing, power. He wants to sit on the Emperor’s throne and to do so he walks over mountains of corpses and … in mud baths.
Glossu Rabban (Dave Bautista): The Harkonnen nephew is a brutal colossus, but has little on his mind. After the conquest of Arrakis, he is put in charge of the Spice production and is in danger of failing.
Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen (Austin Butler): His younger brother enters the scene as an alternative to Glossu. Feyd-Rautha is a fearless warrior and is considered the greatest psycho in the entire Dune universe.
All important characters belonging to House Corrino:
(Léa Seydoux, Christopher Walken and Florence Pugh)
Imperator Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken): The most powerful man in the universe has yet to be seen. In Dune 2, Emperor Shaddam IV finally steps out of the shadows and brings nothing but death and destruction.
Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh): The Emperor’s daughter possesses a razor-sharp mind. The reason? She also belongs to the Bene Gesserit and knows how to manipulate the people around her with her words.
Gaius Helen Mohiam (Charlotte Rampling): She is the leader of the Bene Gesserit and advisor to the Emperor. One of her most important confidants in the new film is the equally coolly calculating Lady Margot (Léa Seydoux).
If you want to delve even deeper into the secrets of the desert planet, you can find our big article on all the important Dune terms here.
