Dune 2's Heartbreaking Ending & Part 3 Setup Teased By Denis Villeneuve

Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve teases how the upcoming sequel ends and sets up a potential Dune: Part Three. Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya return to lead the Dune: Part Two cast as Paul Atreides and Chani, respectively, as the characters' adventure continues on the desert planet of Arrakis. Although the second film isn't even out yet, excitement has been high regarding whether Villeneuve will get the chance to make his duology a trilogy.

As the Dune: Part Two release date approaches, Villeneuve teases to Total Film (via GamesRadar) how the movie will end. According to the director, the sequel ends on a "heartbreaking" note and that, together, the two films tell a "complete" story, but that the next movie does set up a potential third installment. Check out his full comment below:

"All of the elements are there. But I think the movie adaptation is more tragic than the book. The way that Part Two ends… it would create a total balance and equilibrium to finish Paul’s storyline in what we could say in Part Three."

Will Dune: Part Three Happen?

Why The Odds Are Looking Good For A Villeneuve Trilogy

This isn't the first time Villeneuve has expressed interest in making Dune: Part Three happen. At a South Korean press conference in December (via TongTongCulture), Villeneuve revealed that the script for the third movie is "almost finished". The director does make clear in his comment, however, that Dune: Part Three is not yet a sure thing and that, if it does happen, he'll likely make a different movie first for his "mental sanity".

The main factor that determines whether Dune: Part Two gets a sequel, of course, is how well the movie does at the box office. Made on a budget of $165 million, the 2021 movie ended up making $402 million at the box office, despite releasing at a time when movie theaters were still struggling. The sequel's budget is reportedly lower at around $122 million, meaning, the bar to be considered a success will also be a little lower.

Dune's positive reviews, combined with a more favorable theatrical landscape and an increase in star power for Chalamet (due mostly to Wonka), mean the sequel is poised to outperform the original at the box office, potentially by a considerable margin. The first reactions to Dune: Part Two footage also suggest that the movie is going to play well with audiences and could benefit from strong word-of-mouth. If the sequel does end up performing at the box office, it seems very likely that a third movie will indeed move forward.

Source: Total Film (via GamesRadar)