Dune Messiah’s Biggest Challenge After Dune Part 2’s Ending

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Summary

  • Villeneuve faces challenges with the 12-year time jump between Dune parts, needing careful consideration for characters.
  • Adapting Alia’s character and aging poses narrative challenges, with potential solutions including time extension or character alterations.
  • To reconcile book Paul with movie Paul as Emperor, the film may further show his descent and set up a redemption arc, aligning with the novel.

Director Denis Villeneuve is currently working on the script for the sequel to his adaptation of Dune, titled Dune: Messiah. However, making changes to Dune: Part Two could potentially lead to complications that might necessitate significant revisions in the storyline of Dune: Messiah.

When continuing the story from Dune’s two novels, it’s crucial to pay close attention to the development of characters like Chani (Zendaya), Alia (Anya Taylor-Joy), and Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet). Additionally, the significant 12-year time jump between the books necessitates careful handling. Each of these aspects poses a distinct challenge, but there are multiple approaches Villeneuve could take to address each one effectively.

Navigating the 12-Year Time Jump

In simple terms, Hans Zimmer’s scoring for parts 1 and 2 of “Dune” significantly marked director Denis Villeneuve’s influence on the series. His respect for the original material is evident in his skillful adaptation of the novel’s religious, philosophical, and environmental themes. However, he also dared to restructure the storyline, such as condensing the timeline.

In contrast to the two recent movie versions, which cover just a few months collectively, the original Dune novel spans multiple years. This extended timeline leads to a significant challenge when transitioning to Messiah, as there’s a 12-year time leap between the end of Dune Part 2 and the start of Messiah. Paul is portrayed as being fifteen at the end of the second film, but he should be almost thirty in Messiah. This gap necessitates an explanation for the sudden maturity of Alia Atreides, who was not yet born at the end of Dune Part 2, and for the aging of both Paul and Chani as well.

Possible Solutions

  • Condense the leap: The leap itself necessitates the establishment of a transformed political landscape, the devastation of a decade-long holy war, and the consequences of Paul Atreides serving as Emperor. However, the leap could be condensed and still serve its purpose. Given the time compression in the first two installments, it’s likely that Villeneuve will shorten this gap as well.
  • Makeup and/or CGI: With both practical and computer-generated effects seamlessly incorporated in Parts 1 and 2, the third film may use these techniques to make the passage of time believable. This is likely in the event the time jump is lengthened for the sake of incorporating Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia, who hasn’t been born yet at the end of Part 2.
  • Leave it up to acting: It’s possible the director will leave the time jump as-is and rely on the actors to portray their ages. Timothée Chalamet, at 29, is closer to Paul’s age in Messiah than in the first installments. Zendaya is 28, and her recent role as Tashi Duncan in Challengers, which spanned over twelve years, proves it can be done.

Introducing Alia Atreides

Alia, Paul’s younger sister, holds a deep layer of intrigue as a character in “Dune Messiah.” She was exposed to the complete wisdom of the Bene Gesserit even before she was born, making her role both mysterious and crucial. However, by the end of the original book, Alia is only four years old, while “Dune: Part Two” wraps up before her birth. This presents a narrative conundrum as Anya Taylor-Joy, who plays Alia, is almost thirty. The script must find a way to portray Alia as sixteen after the 12-year time skip.

Possible Solutions

  • Lengthen the time jump: A major theory among fans is that Villeneuve will extend the time jump to 20 years to make Anya Taylor Joy’s casting more plausible. However, this would make aging Paul and Chani even more of a challenge.
  • Relegate her to dreams: Other fans propose condensing or eliminating the time jump altogether and handling Alia’s dialogue through spice-induced visions, similar to how Dune Part Two dealt with prescient dreams. However, this may be unlikely given Alia’s role in the novel.
  • Rewrite the rules of her aging: Another potential solution is to retcon Alia’s biology by explaining that being pre-born with spice has made her age more quickly. In Dune Part 2, it’s established that Alia’s consciousness is highly evolved. Accelerated aging wouldn’t be beyond belief.
  • Again, leave it to acting: Villeneuve and the Dune production team cast mid-twenties Chalamet to play fifteen-year-old Paul for Dune Part 1, so allowing Taylor-Joy to utilize her acting prowess in portraying a character ten years younger than her is very likely. However, making Paul and Alia seem far apart in age may be difficult in this scenario.

Paul as an Ambitious Leader

The story of Paul, who transforms from a young noble to the ruler of the entire universe in “Dune Part Two,” is filled with difficult ethical choices and deep personal struggles. Although his rise to power seems inevitable due to destiny, it’s also depicted as something he deeply resists. In the book, Paul appears more strategic from the start, contrasting sharply with the movie version, who is more emotional and uncertain about fulfilling his role. The events in “Messiah” follow Paul’s well-planned journey, so the upcoming film must balance Chalamet’s portrayal of a tragic, fated character with Herbert’s depiction of a calculating, ambitious leader.

Possible Solutions

  • Further Paul’s descent: The film could highlight Paul’s waning humanity and moral compass, showcasing how twelve years as ruling emperor during a violent holy war might affect his psyche. This could alienate him and align him more with the book character, and create a stark contrast between his character pre and post-war.
  • Set up Paul’s redemption arc: The previous films may have changed Paul Atreides this way in anticipation of a believable redemption arc. Audiences can easily detach from protagonists whose humanity is uncertain. By developing Paul as a hesitant leader, Villeneuve may be ensuring audiences can hang on through his dark downfall in hopes of seeing him redeem himself, at least in Chani’s eyes.

Warning: This section may contain spoilers for Dune Messiah

Chani’s Evolving Role

In the story of “Dune,” Chani, a Fremen warrior, holds a significant position in both the novel and Villeneuve’s adaptations. However, her character and relationship with Paul are portrayed differently in these two versions. Unlike her book counterpart who is more accepting of Paul’s destiny, Chani in “Dune Part Two” questions prophecy and his ascension to power. In the film adaptation by Villeneuve, Chani’s character has been adapted for a contemporary audience; she is not just a passive concubine but a voice of reason, challenging Paul’s growing political aspirations.

This discrepancy presents a challenge for Villeneuve’s narrative progression from Dune Part Two to Dune Messiah. In the original novels, Chani stays by Paul’s side during his marriage to Irulan and gives birth to several of his children, including an infant who passes away before the Messiah timeline. However, in Dune Part Two, Chani refuses Paul after he ascends the throne, which significantly changes our perspective as we move forward into the subsequent storyline.

Possible Solutions

  • Chani reconciles with Paul before the film begins: The film could imply that time has softened Chani’s stance, with the couple reconnecting off-screen. This setup would allow the story to start with their relationship on stable ground. This path would maintain Book Chani’s character while preserving the impact of their separation in Dune Part Two. However, some fans may see it as an easy way out. Many believe Chani loves Paul, but despises the Lisan Al-Gaib.
  • Chani reconciles with Paul during the film: Significant plot points may surround their strained relationship, making their reconciliation a key emotional thread alongside Paul’s redemption. This reunion could humanize Paul amid his increasingly ruthless rule, giving Chani a more active role in challenging his choices.
  • Chani turns against Paul: A more radical departure from the book, this could position Chani as a direct enemy to Paul, taking on the antagonist role that the zealous Korba serves in Messiah. This deviation would make her an even stronger presence, forcing Paul’s hand in confronting his mistakes. However, this theory poses its own problems, specifically involving the role Chani’s childbirth plays in the novel.
  • Chani is already pregnant with the twins: In the book, Chani lost an infant child and tried for years before becoming pregnant with twins. The film could streamline this by starting with her already carrying them, immediately raising the stakes of her relationship with Paul. If Villeneuve decides to do away with the time jump, Chani’s pregnancy could force a reconciliation in Act 1.

The CEO of Legendary has expressed that ‘Messiah’ should deliver an experience equivalent to ‘Part Two’, implying a more active engagement instead of avoiding it. Already, the groundwork has been laid, with Jessica’s concluding words in ‘Part Two’ hinting at the commencement of the conflict. Refreshing character arcs like Chani could offer a new take, mirroring the contemporary narrative style seen in the first two movies. Despite any Academy oversights, director Villeneuve’s body of work in sci-fi demonstrates that no challenge is insurmountable.

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2025-02-12 17:25