Javier Bardem: Dune sequel will “surprise” people

Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 movie Dune was, at long last, a largely successful attempt to turn Frank Herbert’s dense 1965 science fiction novel into a coherent story. Part of that success is du to Villeneuve’s refusal to rush things. The first Dune movie only covered about half of the novel, with a sequel due out next year.

And apparently, the new movie will manage to surprise even those who have read the book…but not because it changes anything. We’ll just let Javier Bardem, who plays the Fremen leader Stilgar, explain it. “I’ve read the new draft,” Bardem said at the Cannes Film Festival, per Deadline. “And I think they’ve done an amazing job of putting together the pieces in a way that is gonna surprise people.”

"They won’t be surprised [by what happens], obviously, because they’ve read the book, but they’ll be surprised by the way they put it together. I was very moved by it. It’s a movie that is full, and you can feel the weight of it, and at the same time [you can enjoy] the spectacularity of it. [I can’t wait] to go back to the desert with those people, and I’m so happy to go back with Denis, who is one of the greatest directors ever. He’s a lovely man.”"

So the new movie won’t change the book, but people will still be surprised by it. I’m not sure how that’ll work. I wonder if they’ll tell the story in a new order? Or maybe he just means the production is being put together so immaculately that it’ll knock the socks off even the most diehard of Dune fans.

As long as the movie is good, I’m down for whatever. Dune: Part II is due out in theaters on October 20, 2023.

To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.

Get HBO, Starz, Showtime and MORE for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels