MOVIE NEWS – Fans will have to wait another year for Dune 2, but in the meantime they can admire Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides in some fresh photos published by Empire magazine. The photos show the adventures that await the young prince on the planet Arrakis, where he has to face not only the sandworms and the Harkonnen house, but also a new threat: the Emperor. Denis Villeneuve, the director, also told what will be different in Dune 2 from the first part.

Dune 2 was originally supposed to hit theaters in 2023, but Warner Bros. decided to postpone the release by a year to ensure the proper reception of the film. The studio feared that the coronavirus pandemic would prevent them from exploiting the film’s potential and reduce its revenues. However, fans are not completely left out, as Empire magazine’s latest issue features four new photos from the film.

The photos feature Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, who joined the Fremen people living on the planet Arrakis at the end of the first part. The Fremen are a nomadic people who have adapted to the desert environment and worship the sandworms, which produce the valuable spice substance. Spice is a drug that enhances human consciousness and enables space travel. Paul Atreides has a special ability that allows him to see the future and influence people’s will. He may be the prophesied Kwisatz Haderach, who can save the universe.

EXCLUSIVE 🚨#DunePartTwo 'delivers’ on the promise of Part One, says director Denis Villeneuve.

‘The first movie was more contemplative – a young man discovering a world. Here, it’s a war movie,' he tells Empire.

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— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) August 25, 2023

The subscriber cover for Empire’s world-exclusive #DunePartTwo issue is a stunning piece of Arrakis-inspired art, designed exclusively for Empire by @nadamaktari.

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— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) August 25, 2023

Empire's world-exclusive #DunePartTwo issue wormrides its way onto newsstands from Thursday 31 August.

Pre-order The Fighters cover: https://t.co/3UsVjL88Zp

Pre-order The Oppressors cover: https://t.co/OQvdAcV6Ad pic.twitter.com/0tNMdHzgxA

— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) August 25, 2023

In Dune 2, Paul Atreides has to deal not only with the Harkonnen house, which wants to take over the planet Arrakis and the spice, but also with a new enemy: the Emperor. The Emperor does not look kindly on Paul’s popularity and influence, and fears that he threatens his rule. He launches a secret operation against him, using his elite military unit, the Sardaukar.

Denis Villeneuve, the director, said that Dune 2 will have more action and drama than the first part. “The second part will be much more intense,” he said. “The characters go deeper into themselves and each other. The political conflict also escalates. The second part will be much more of a sci-fi thriller,” he added.

Dune 2 will feature actors from the first part, such as Rebecca Ferguson (Lady Jessica), Oscar Isaac (Leto Atreides), Josh Brolin (Gurney Halleck), Jason Momoa (Duncan Idaho), Zendaya (Chani), Javier Bardem (Stilgar) and Dave Bautista (Glossu Rabban). New faces will also join the cast, such as Charlotte Rampling (Gaius Helen Mohiam), Chang Chen (Dr. Wellington Yueh) and Stellan Skarsgård (Baron Vladimir Harkonnen).

Dune 2 will hit theaters on March 15, 2024. In the meantime, it is worth watching the first part, which was released in 2021 and was a great success among critics and audiences. The film is an adaptation of a classic sci-fi novel written by Frank Herbert in 1965, which spawned several sequels and prequels. Dune is a film with an impressive visual world, an exciting story and a profound message that should not be missed.