The upcoming Dune sequel, currently titled Dune: Part 2, is currently in post-production, but more top-tier actors continue to be added to the cast, as Watchmen‘s Tim Blake Nelson will also appear in the movie. The piece of news is coming from The Hollywood Reporter, though details are scarce at this point on who Nelson might be portraying in the upcoming sequel.
Dune: Part 2 is currently in the works for a November 2023 release.
TIM BLAKE NELSON JOINS THE CAST OF DUNE: PART 2
Nelson’s involvement has successfully been kept a mystery throughout the film’s entire production. Cameras stopped rolling on the film in mid-December 2022. Despite the beans being spilled now, his character in the film is still being kept under wraps. This is definitely a change of pace when compared to the previous Dune: Part Two casting reports, as they all included details regarding the role each actor was playing. With that in mind, it’s possible his part is quite limited.
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Warner Bros. announced last summer, as filming began, that the following actors would be returning for the sequel: Timothée Chalamet (Paul Atreides), Zendaya (Chani), Rebecca Ferguson (Lady Jessica), Javier Bardem (Stilgar), Josh Brolin (Gurney Halleck), Stellan Skarsgård (Baron Harkonnen), Dave Bautista (Glossu Rabban Harkonnen), Charlotte Rampling (Reverend Mother), and Stephen McKinley Henderson (Thufir Hawat). Additionally, the ensemble is adding the following names: Florence Pugh (Princess Irulan), Austin Butler (Feyd-Rautha), Christopher Walken (The Padishah Emperor IV), Léa Seydoux (Lady Margot), and Souheila Yacoub (Shishakli).
Denis Villeneuve is back as director. He also co-wrote the script for the film with Jon Spaihts. They are adapting the second half of Frank Herbert’s seminal 1965 novel, picking up right after Paul Atreides joins the Zendaya’s Chani and the Fremen, to eventually lead them to take over Arrakis and remove the Harkonnens from the planet. Per the studio, here is the official synopsis for the new film:
“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.”
The entire behind-the-scenes crew that worked on the first movie is also back, including Oscar-winning cinematographer Greig Fraser, three-time Oscar-nominated costume designer Jacqueline West, and multiple-Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer. Warner Bros. and Legendary are teaming up to produce the sequel, with the former handling the worldwide distribution.
WHAT ELSE IS COMING FROM ARRAKIS?
A prequel series centered around the creation of the Bene Gesserit, 10,000 years before Paul Atreides and the new films, is currently in production for HBO Max. Titled Dune: The Sisterhood, it will feature Emily Watson and Shirley Henderson as the Harkonnen sisters, the two leading roles. Obi-Wan Kenobi‘s Indira Varma also joined the project as Empress Natalya, and according to sources, Vikings star Travis Fimmel will also play a character who suffers a traumatizing upbringing as an orphan on a destitute planet, and who will be forced to join the military to escape from that life. Mark Strong will also appear in an unspecified role.
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Emmy-winner Johan Renck (Chernobyl) is directing at least the first episode and executive producing the series. Filming began for the show back in November in Budapest, as Renck announced. As reported by Deadline, Diane Ademu-John stepped down as co-showrunner shortly before this happened, though she will still be credited as executive producer. Alison Schapker later became the sole showrunner. Dune: The Sisterhood is based on the Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson novel Sisterhood of Dune.
With filming already underway, the series could land on HBO Max around the time Dune: Part Two storms into theaters, on November 3, 2023.
What do you think about Tim Blake Nelson joining Dune: Part Two? Are you looking forward to Denis Villeneuve’s new movie? What about Dune: The Sisterhood? Let us know by dropping us a tweet!
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SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter
