Dune 2 confirmed; slated for a theatrical only debut in 2023

Denis Villeneuve is probably doing a groovy sandworm walk in his living room after hearing that Dune 2 has been confirmed. Legendary and Warner Bros. announced on Tuesday that the sequel will get spicy in theaters in October of 2023.

The first Dune opened in theater and got spicy on HBO Max simultaneously on Oct. 22. Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic hit the desert floor running by earning $40.1 million in its domestic debut, a career-best for Villeneuve and his undeniably sexy approach to the science-fiction genre. At the end of the day, it was Legendary’s call to greenlight a sequel, and we’re thrilled to say that they have.

“I just received news from Legendary that we are officially moving forward with Dune: Part Two,” Villeneuve said in a statement. “It was a dream of mine to adapt Frank Herbert’s Dune and I have the fans, the cast, and crew, Legendary and Warner Bros. to thank for supporting this dream. This is only the beginning.”

Now that Dune 2 is a lock, fans can rest easy knowing that the story of Paul Atreides will continue. The first film in the series stars Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgård, Zendaya, and many more. The film cost a reported $165 million to make before marketing costs but has already snagged $223 million in worldwide receipts.

“Legendary is pleased to officially move forward with Dune: Part Two…once again based on the amazing books written by Frank Herbert,” Legendary said in a statement. “We would not have gotten to this point without the extraordinary vision of Denis and the amazing work of his talented crew, the writers, our stellar cast, our partners at Warner Bros., and of course the fans! Here’s to more Dune.”

Added Toby Emmerich, chairman Warner Bros. Pictures Group: “Denis Villeneuve has crafted a film that is both visually extraordinary and emotionally transporting, as evidenced by its global success both critically and at the box office. We are thrilled to continue on this journey with Denis and his cast and crew, and our partners at Legendary, and can’t wait to bring the next chapter of this epic tale to theaters in October 2023.”

This is only the beginning…

Thank you to those who have experienced @dunemovie so far, and those who are going in the days and weeks ahead. We’re excited to continue the journey! pic.twitter.com/mZj68Hnm0A

— Legendary (@Legendary) October 26, 2021

This is glorious news, my friends! I saw Dune over this past weekend in my local theater (with D-Box seating no less), and enjoyed every gorgeous and captivating second of it. I felt like I had seen something truly special that day, like something on the level of Star Wars or The Lord of the Rings in terms of scope and scale. I’m a big fan of Villeneuve’s signature aesthetic in general, and found that I could not take my eyes off Dune‘s insane architecture, technology, and costuming. It strikes me as the kind of movie that will stand the test of time, and I’m so happy to hear that we’re getting Dune 2. I figured it would happen eventually, but it’s nice to have it confirmed, you know?

Are you stoked to know that Dune 2 has been confirmed? Do you hope that Villeneuve gets an opportunity to make a third to round out Paul’s story? Let us know in the comments section below.

Dune: Part Two will hit theaters on October 20, 2023.