The immense space epic that is Dune has once again captured audiences with its bloody tale of aristocratic warfare and planetary spirituality. The new film is already a box office success, and as such, a sequel has just been greenlit and is scheduled to come out in 2023.
Fans of the incredibly influential sci-fi series will unfortunately have to wait a while for the next film to arrive. There are a few questions that seem to be circulating around, which will hopefully be answered when the Dune sequel comes out down the road.
Major spoilers ahead!
6 What Is The True Extent Of Paul's Powers?
Throughout the film, audiences are exposed to Paul’s strange abilities that seem to flare up in moments of danger. He uses something called the “voice” on the Harkonnens that captured him and his mother; a strange power that allows him to mentally take control of anyone through a vocal command.
His unique visions and his ability to know things beyond his comprehension lead only to more questions. How did he gain these powers? Was he born with them or has he gained them over time? How will he use his powers to take back the planet Arrakis from the Harkonnen?
5 What Is The Origin And Potential Of Spice?
Spice is the driving force of the story’s plot. A mysterious substance only found on Arrakis that allows humans to live longer and travel through space. The exact origins of the spice are vague at best, perhaps done so intentionally.
The native Fremen see it as a way of life, having been exposed to it from Arrakis over long periods of time. Spice is arguably the most valuable substance in the known universe and thus is dramatically fought over. Its role in the story will hopefully become more apparent in the sequel, although the full scope of its powers could become more apparent too.
4 How Did The Baron Survive?
The Baron is one of the most formidable villains in sci-fi history. An embodiment of conquest and bloodthirst, the Baron never hesitates to slay those that stand in his path to power. In the film, Leto uses a poison capsule to assassinate the Baron and his cohorts, but only succeeds in killing those in the room with him, not the Baron, who somehow survives, albeit is severely wounded.
The exact powers of the Baron remain unexplained, from his creepy floating to his ability to survive such a brutal attempt on his life. The sequel will likely explore more of his backstory and his capabilities, but how exactly he survived the poison is still a mystery.
3 What Is The Meaning Of The Kwisatz Haderach?
The Kwisatz Haderach is an enigma to the characters in Dune. Something spoken of as if it could just be a fairy tale. The exact symbolism of the prophecy remains vague in the first film, but seems to be an important component that will play into the second half of the story.
Who or what exactly the Kwisatz Haderach is and does remains a mystery to audiences. Certain powers that be have knowledge of this ancient prophecy of sorts, but what role it plays in the current story is still ambiguous.
2 What Is The Emperor's End Game?
As of now, The Emperor hasn’t even been seen by audiences. He has only been mentioned and acts as a driving force for the story’s events to unfold, sending the House Atreides to Arrakis in the first place. His role in the coup remains unclear, but there are suspicions that he could be orchestrating more than the film lets on.
His own private army, the brutal Sardaukar, are seen on Arrakis helping the Harkonnen in their massacre, leading audiences to believe the Emperor is pulling strings behind closed doors and likely knows more than the film would have them believe. What exactly his end goal is remains unclear and his reasons for wiping out House Atreides is also undecided, but one thing is certain: he is not to be messed with.
1 Who Is the Girl In Paul's Visions?
Throughout the film, Paul has visions of a Fremen girl with blue eyes that seems to be involved with him in some distant future. The girl, played by Zendaya, finally makes an appearance towards the end of the movie, when Paul fights his way into joining the Fremen with his mother.
Her role in the future of the story is unclear, but audiences can surmise that the two will have some level of romantic involvement. Audiences will have to wait a few years to fully see their relationship play out, but until then, anyone can still read the book and relive the magic all over again.