Summary

Dune: Part Two will correct the perception of Paul Atreides as a hero and instead portray him as the anti-hero author Frank Herbert intended him to be. Paul Atreides is not a selfless hero, but rather someone driven by his own desires and thirst for power. In Dune: Part Two, director Denis Villeneuve says he will fully incorporate Paul’s selfishness and the moral issue of his manipulation of the Fremen.

There was one thing about the Dune books that disappointed author Frank Herbert, and Dune: Part Two is supposed to fix it. The sequel comes three years after Dune’s release and will continue the story of Paul Atreides’ rise to prominence in galactic politics. As he continues to garner support among the Fremen, Paul’s journey to avenge his father could very well lead him on a journey of conquest.

Dune: Part Two’s story will lead directly to the plot of Herbert’s Dune Messiah, but director Denis Villeneuve doesn’t plan for it to have the same surprising twist as Herbert’s book did. Instead, he intends to ensure that the follow-up will not be quite as necessary as it originally was. Speaking exclusively to Screen Rant, Villeneuve explained the purpose behind Dune Messiah and the way that he plans to change Dune 2’s story to better express Herbert’s intentions.

When Frank Herbert wrote the book, and then when the book came out, he was disappointed by how people perceived Paul Atreides. At the time, he felt that people were talking about Paul as a hero, and for him, he was an anti-hero. He was a dark figure. The book was a warning for him about a Messianic figure.
And for that, he wrote Dune Messiah to correct [that] and to make sure that people understood his intention. I knew that story. I had the benefit of having read Dune Messiah, so I wrote Part 2 having that in mind. That is why Chani’s character is slightly different in my adaptation than in the book, and it helped me to bring the initial intention of Frank Herbert to the screen.

Paul Atreides Is Not A Hero

Known as the Kwisatz Haderach and the Lisan al Gaib, Paul is a prophesied figure with immense power. He is one of the few people with the influence and abilities to rival the Emperor, and the Fremen hold him as a figure of renown. With his destiny as a rallying point, he is able to earn the allegiance of the Fremen, and he even possesses the ability to ride the sandworms as easily as any Fremen can. That said, he is not a hero.

Instead of working to dismiss the Emperor and dismantle his seat, Paul is more interested in a mission vengeance. He wants to unseat the Emperor so that he can take the seat. Even as a messiah, his interests have always aligned with his own selfish desires. No matter how supportive the Fremen are of him, Paul was raised in a position of power and is not necessarily capable of recognizing their struggle. He seeks to use them as a tool for his own gain, rather than a people who need his support.

Related Dune 2 Will Struggle To Adapt 1 Important Paul Scene From The Books Denis Villeneuve’s Dune masterfully adapted Frank Herbert’s notoriously confusing prose, but one scene from the novel could hamper Dune: Part Two.

Paul is also a character who wants to be worshiped and respected. Rather than acting like hero and working to make the galaxy a better place, he wants power and influence. He wants to use the Fremen to force others to bend to his whims. In many ways, Paul sees himself as a savior, which comes with an element of other-ing the Fremen. While Herbert failed to fully communicate that moral issue in Dune, Dune: Part Two should fully incorporate Paul’s more villainous desires.

Dune: Part Two Dune: Part Two is the sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 film that covers the novel’s events by Frank Herbert. The movie continues the quest of Paul Atreides on a journey of revenge against those who slew his family. With insight into the future, Atreides may be forced to choose between his one true love and the universe’s fate.  Release Date March 1, 2024 Budget $122 Million Studio(s) Legendary Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures