Dune: Denis Villeneuve says Zendaya plays a major role in the sequel

Last Updated on August 18, 2021

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune has been highly anticipated since its original release date was in place for December 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has seen the film shift on the release calendar before finally landing on its current date of October 22, 2021. The sprawling sci-fi epic has been confirmed to adapt the first half of Frank Herbert’s novel but, if the sequel gets the green light, Villeneuve says it will put more focus on Zendaya’s character Chani, who plays a minor role in the first installment.

During a chat with IGN, Villeneuve said, “I’m honored to present on-screen two talents [Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya] that are so explosive, and I can’t wait to shoot the second part of Dune to get them back together. Knowing that in the next chapter Zendaya will be a protagonist of the story.”

In the first installment, Zendaya plays Chani, a mysterious woman with glowing blue eyes who appears in Paul’s (Chalamet) dreams and lives on the planet Arrakis, part of the native Fremen tribes. Despite being featured rather heavily in the latest trailer for the film, Zendaya has previously confirmed that her role is minor in the movie but she hinted at more to do if a sequel is made. Villeneuve had always planned for Dune to be split into two parts because of Herbert’s “complex” story and he stated back in April that “I would not agree to make this adaptation of the book with one single movie. The world is too complex. It’s a world that takes its power in the details.”

A sequel to Dune hasn’t been officially greenlit and the film is making its debut in theaters and HBO Max simultaneously so it will need some great worldwide box muscle to recoup that reported $165 million budget but the film has been eagerly anticipated amongst the novel’s hardcore fans and those who have a lot of respect for Villeneuve’s previous work. The film’s impressive ensemble cast should also help put some butts in the seats when the film opens to the masses.

Dune follows the son of a noble family that is entrusted with the protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy. Villeneuve has gathered an impressive ensemble cast for the film including Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgard, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya, Chang Chen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem.

What are YOUR hopes for the Dune sequel?