In the film industry, especially in today's world following the COVID-19 pandemic, there are no guarantees of what will or won't work. That rings true for Denis Villeneuve's part 2 of Dune, but the visionary director believes the necessary 2nd part will happen.

Dune is based on the 1965 science fiction novel by Frank Herbert and has fans eagerly awaiting its release date. Warner Bros. and Legendary offered the directing job to Villeneuve back in 2017, and his only request for helming such a hefty project was that the story would be split into 2 parts. As the buildup to the film's release date continues, Villeneuve tells Total Film magazine that he feels confident that part 2 will be made, which he isn't treating as a sequel.

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"There’s no such thing as ‘Dune 1’ and ‘Dune 2.’ It’s ‘Dune: Part One’ and ‘Dune: Part Two, " Villeneuve said, adding that he believes the only way a part 2 will not be made is if Dune is a box office failure, but judging by the eye-popping visuals, Hans Zimmer's pulsating score presented in the trailers, the talented cast and crew involved, and the mature source material that is being adapted, that scenario seems highly unlikely. "We have been hearing in the past few decades that it’s not possible to adapt this book, and that it’s an impossible task. I think that in the back of the mind of the studio, it’s still the same! The first thing was to prove that there was a beautiful, popular movie that can exist, and I think that I proved that — everybody at Warner Bros and Legendary, they are 100 percent behind the project," Villeneuve confidently adds. "They are proud of the movie, so they want the movie to move forward. And they still did half of it. So, you know, I’m very optimistic.”

Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides in Dune

Although Villeneuve's filmography alone is enough to head to the theatres to see Dune on the big screen, Warner Bros.' recent hybrid model of simultaneously having theatrical releases premiere on the HBO MAX streaming service presents a new level of uncertainty. Dune's box office numbers will most likely take a hit from the streaming option, but Warner Bros. will keep a close eye on the film's performance, as they're hopeful that they have something truly spectacular on their hands.

Villeneuve, like many directors, has already shared his frustration with HBO MAX release strategy in an essay he wrote for Variety in Dec. 2020, stating that the scope and scale of Dune are not meant for the home television. Understanding the ramifications the pandemic has left, Villeneuve recalls his frustration with Warner Bros. decision, telling Total Film magazine, "Frankly, to watch ‘Dune’ on a television, the best way I can compare it is to drive a speedboat in your bathtub. For me, it’s ridiculous. It’s a movie that has been made as a tribute to the big-screen experience.”

All of that worry and frustration still hasn't slowed down Villeneuve, as he claims that he has begun writing Dune Part 2. "I feel like I’m eight years old again," he says. Recently, Villeneuve opened up about working with the talented Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet, also addressing that Zendaya will be the lead of Dune Part 2.

Dune will have its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2021, and is set to release in theatres and for streaming on HBO MAX on October 22, 2021.

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Source: Total Film