Dune Sequel Delayed Until 2024 Amidst Hollywood Shutdown
Warner Bros announced on Thursday (24 August) that Denis Villeneuve’s highly anticipated Dune sequel has been officially delayed until 15 March 2024. The news comes as both the actors’ and writers’ guilds are currently on strike, causing a historic Hollywood shutdown.
Furthermore, another film, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, which was set for release on 14 March 2024, has also been delayed until 12 April 2024. However, the studio’s major December 2023 releases, including Wonka, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and The Color Purple, will remain unaffected for now.
IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond had previously denied rumors of Dune: Part Two being delayed just a month ago, stating that he strongly believed it would stick to its initial release date of 3 November 2023.
The Dune franchise is based on Frank Herbert’s classic sci-fi book saga and stars Timothée Chalamet in the lead role of Paul Atreides. New cast members joining the sequel include Austin Butler, who will portray Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, the fearsome nephew and heir of Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, played by Stellan Skarsgård. Léa Seydoux also joins the cast as Lady Margot, a Bene Gesserit, along with Souheila Yacoub as a Fremen warrior and Tim Blake Nelson.
The film will see the return of several actors from the 2021 Dune adaptation, including Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Charlotte Rampling, and Stephen McKinley Henderson.
Following the unveiling of the “jaw-dropping” first trailer at CinemaCon, Zendaya addressed concerns about her limited screen time in the first film, assuring fans that she will have a more prominent role in the sequel.
Described by Villeneuve as an “epic war movie” and “much more dense” than its predecessor, Dune: Part Two will continue Paul Atreides’ mythic journey as he joins forces with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against those who destroyed his family. The film will explore the protagonist’s choice between love and the fate of the universe.
Meanwhile, the actors’ strike, which began last month, has entered its second month. The 160,000 member-strong SAG-AFTRA union voted to join the striking Hollywood writers in their fight for better compensation and assurances against job displacement by artificial intelligence.
In a recent interview, Pose star Billy Porter revealed that he had to sell his house as a consequence of the ongoing strikes.
As Hollywood grapples with the effects of the shutdown and delays, moviegoers and fans of Dune will have to wait a little longer for the highly anticipated sequel to hit the big screen.