The marvelous execution of Dune was the result of the combined efforts of its staff, but the director, Denis Villeneuve, deserves the most credit. Many people were familiar with the world of Dune because the first part was adapted from Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel of the same name, and a film based on it had previously been released. Denis Villeneuve, on the other hand, made sure to win over both audiences with his excellent introduction of Dune‘s world and its kingdoms and set everything up for part two.
Dune, released in October 2021, was a box office blockbuster and a six-Academy Award winner. In the first installment, we saw Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) leave for the deserts of Arrakis to mine spice, the most precious resource on earth. However, the former occupants of Arrakis, the house of Harkonnens, staged a massacre in which they slaughtered many people close to Paul, including his father, Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac).
After he escaped with Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) in search of the Fremen’s help, he dueled one of them and killed him, becoming one of them. The first movie left viewers with many unresolved concerns and mysteries, and here are a few that we hope will be answered in Dune: Part Two.
Mystery Behind Paul’s Visions
Paul Atreides, the main protagonist of Dune, has always been somewhat mysterious, but his character got considerably more interesting once he started having visions. His visions were largely incomplete at first, and the first film only briefly addressed the nature of his foresight. For instance, near the film’s beginning, Paul dreams about Duncan (Jason Momoa) dying, and when they try to flee from the Harkonnen’s armed forces, he sacrifices himself to clear the way for them.
However, in another vision, he frequently sees a Fremen girl named Chani (Zendaya), whom he eventually meets, but in the vision, she stabs him with a knife and kills him. However, in the trailer for Dune: Part Two, they were portrayed as passionate lovers willing to do anything for each other. So, the second film has yet to explain why some of his visions are accurate while others simply will not come true.
How Did Baron Manage to Survive?
The main antagonist of Dune, Baron, is a vicious and enormously evil tyrant who slaughtered the Atreides family without remorse. During the seizure, when Baron catches Duke Leto and attempts to question him, Leto uses a poison capsule to kill everyone in the room.
Nonetheless, Baron survives by sticking to the ceiling’s corner like a severely wounded beast and healing later with minimal effort.
It was never explained in the first film how Baron was able to float creepily or survive such a deadly poison attack. Hopefully, the sequel will delve into more detail about his past and the mystery behind his powers.
As previously pointed out, Paul is an enigmatic person not just because he has visions but also due to many others, including Bene Gesserit and Dr. Kyne, have identified him as a Fremen. Shortly after their arrival in Arrakis, Duke Leto, Paul, and a few others ride to the spice mining spot in an ornithopter.
When they discover a sandworm approaching from afar, the spice harvester is unable to fly due to a failed wing, and Duke Leto tries to save the people on board. When Paul heads out to help them, he hears voices calling for him, saying “Kwisatz Haderach,” which could be a prophecy. However, who or what Kwisatz Haderach is has remained a mystery, and only Dune: Part Two could go deeper into it, finally providing viewers with clarification.
Who Else Survived From the House Atreides?
Although the surprise attack by House Harkonnens was successful, several members of House Atreides managed to flee, including Duncan, who died later protecting Paul, and, as seen in the trailer, Josh Brolin’s Gurney Halleck, Paul’s mentor and sparring partner. It gives many viewers hope that other characters from House Atreides are still alive and will help Paul in his next endeavor of unifying Fremen and avenging his father by waging war on Harkonnens.
Dr. Kynes and the Emperor
Even though Dune is a two-hour-35-minute-long film, the Emperor is only mentioned a few times, such as when he orders House Atreides to take over Arrakis. Although he’s mostly the driving force behind the story, his role in the House Harkonnen coup remains unknown.
Dr. Kynes (Sharon Duncan-Brewster), on the other hand, remains a mysterious character. She acted on the Emperor’s direct commands and would only remain loyal to him, but ultimately, she helped Paul survive.
Subsequently, just as she was about to ride a sandworm to alert other houses about the coup, she was killed by an unexpected attack from the Emperor’s men, who had supported the Harkonnens either openly or discreetly. Dune: Part Two may be a lengthy wait, but it will be worthwhile if it addresses all the questions raised by the first film.
Dune: Part Two will hit theaters on Nov. 3.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
