Let's go for Dune 2

DAY

17 months before the release of the second part of his diptych Dune, Denis Villeneuve has started filming film today in Italy. What do we know so far about this highly anticipated sequel to the film adaptation of Frank Herbert's science fiction novel? The Diary takes stock.

It was in Altivole, in the province of Treviso, that Denis Villeneuve gave the first turns of the crank following Dune, today. According to the specialized site Deadline Hollywood, the Quebec filmmaker settled for a few days in this region of northeastern Italy to film some scenes of his film around the Brion Tomb, a funerary monument designed by the Venetian architect Carlo Scarpa between 1968 and 1978.

La Tombe Brion, in Italy, has been hosting the filming of the next Dune since Monday.

According to the Italian newspaper Treviso Today, this very popular place for tourists will be closed to the public until July 8 for the needs of the Hollywood production. It is not known which actors of the film will be present in Italy for these first days of filming.

After this short stay in Italy, Denis Villeneuve will move with his entire team to Budapest, Hungary, on July 21, to relocate to the very studios where he shot most of the first Dune, in 2019.

New faces

We already know that Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem will reprise their respective roles in the sequel to Dune. However, in recent weeks, several other stars have joined the castto interpret characters who will make their appearance in the second part of the diptych. 

Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet will resume their respective roles in the sequel to Dune.

This is particularly the case of the Oscar-winning actor Christopher Walken who will slip into the skin of Emperor Padishah Shaddam IV. Florence Pugh (Midsommar) will play her daughter, Princess Irulan, while Frenchwoman Léa Seydoux (Dying Can Wait) will play Lady Margot, a member of the community of sisters.  

The actor Austin Butler, who can be seen these days in the skin of Elvis in the biographical drama devoted to the King, will defend the character of Feyd-Rautha, the great rival of the hero Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet ).

A bet that paid off

In 2019, Denis Villeneuve made the bet to approach the shooting of Dunelike the first part of a diptych without having the certainty of being able to shoot the second part. The Warner Bros studio finally gave the green light for the shooting of the second chapter last October, after being reassured by the excellent start of the film at the North American box office (40 M$ in three days). 

In an interview with Journal last fall, Villeneuve promised a “more ambitious” second film. than the first. 

“ In the first film, we had to take time to set up and explain this universe to people who have never read the book, the Quebec filmmaker pointed out at the time. Now that these elements have been introduced, the second part of the film will be able to be more dynamic and more pure fun and action. If Dune – Part 1 is an appetizer, Dune – Part 2 will be the main course. » 

Released last October, the first film generated over $400 million at the worldwide box office and won six Oscars. Dune 2 hits theaters November 17, 2023.