Summary
Denis Villeneuve has confirmed he’s in the writing stages ofDune Messiah, but tackling this new adaptation may prove a challenge.Dune: Part Two’s deviations from Frank Herbert’s original novel could present issues requiring major restructuring ofDuneMessiah.
Specifically, the characters of Chani (Zendaya), Alia (Anya Taylor-Joy), and Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), as well as the significant 12-year time jump between the two novels, need careful consideration to ensure a cohesive continuation of the story arc. Each of these issues presents a unique challenge, and there are several ways Villaneuve could address each one.
Navigating the 12-Year Time Jump
Duneparts1 and 2,scored by the iconic Hans Zimmer, solidified director Villeneuve’s imprint on the franchise. His appreciation for the source material stands out in his expert translation of the novel’s religious, philosophical, and environmental themes. However, he also made bold changes to the story structure, including a compressed timeline.
The originalDunenovel takes place over several years, while the two recent film adaptations only span a couple of months combined. This makes the already challenging 12-year time jump leading up toMessiaheven more difficult. Paul is supposedly fifteen at the end ofDune Part 2, while he is supposed to be nearly thirty when Messiah picks up. The difficulty lies in explaining how previously unborn Alia Atreides is now a teenager, while showing that Paul and Chani have also aged.
Possible Solutions
Introducing Alia Atreides
Alia, Paul’s younger sister, is a character of profound complexity. With full consciousness and the accumulated knowledge of the entire Bene Gesserit while still in utero,her presence inDune Messiahis both enigmatic and pivotal. However, Alia is four years old by the end of the original novel, whileDune: Part Twoconcludes before her birth. Her introduction poses another narrative challenge given that Anya Taylor-Joy is nearly thirty, and her character should be sixteen after the 12-year jump.
Paul as an Ambitious Leader
Paul’s journey from a young noble to the Emperor of the Known Universe is fraught with moral dilemmas and existential crises. InDune Part Two, his ascent is portrayed with a sense of destiny, but also with deep reluctance. Book Paul is more calculating from the beginning, standing starkly against Movie Paul, who is more emotional andhesitant to play his role.Messiah’s events relate to Paul’s carefully crafted arc. Therefore, the upcoming film will have to reconcile Chalamet’s tragic, predestined boy with Herbert’s cold, ambitious leader.
Warning: This section may contain spoilers forDune Messiah
Chani’s Evolving Role
Chani, a Fremen warrior, plays a pivotal role in both the novel and Villeneuve’sDuneadaptations. However, her characterization and relationship with Paul differ between the two. InDune Part Two, Chani is skeptical of prophecy and Paul’s rise to power, in contrast to her book counterpart, who is more accepting of his destiny. Villenueve’s adaptationstailor her to a modern audience— less the docile concubine, and more the voice of reason, resisting Paul’s growing political ambition.
However, this poses a problem for Villenueve’s transition betweenDune Part TwoandDune Messiah. In the novels, Chani remains at Paul’s sideduring his marriage to Irulanand bears several of his children, including an infant who dies before the events ofMessiah. InDune Part Two, however, Chani rejects Paul after he takes the throne. This fundamentally alters how we will enter into the next chapter.
Legendary’s CEO recently stated thatMessiahmust be an experience on par withPart Two, which likely means embracing jihad rather than avoiding it. The seeds have already been planted, with Jessica’s final words inPart Twosignaling the war’s beginning. Updating the arcs of characters like Chani could provide a fresh perspective, aligning with the modern storytelling choices of the first two films.Regardless of any Oscar snubs, visionary sci-fi director Villeneuve’s filmography serves as evidence that nothing is out of the question.
