After a successful run at the weekend box office, a new Dune sequel has finally been greenlit. Legendary announced the news today in a tweet. The tweet read, “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!” Additionally, the tweet contained a concept poster for the upcoming sequel. The poster features the words “Dune Part 2” on a blended orange background.Â
The Dune Sequel Being Greenlit is Great New for Villeneuve
The news of the Dune sequel being greenlit is excellent news for director Denis Villeneuve. According to Deadline, Villeneuve always intended to split the epic story into two parts. While David Lynch’s version of the film had to work to get the story into one film, splitting the film into two parts will allow more detail and give the key scenes time to breathe. In a statement from Villeneuve, courtesy of Deadline, the director states, “I just received news from Legendary that we are officially moving forward with Dune: Part Two. 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.”
Dune: Part Two Will Release in Theaters ExclusivelyÂ
Dune: Part Two will be released in theaters in 2023. The film outperformed previous box office projections. Despite Warner Brother’s conservative estimate of $30 million domestic, Dune ended up raking in 40.1 million on opening weekend. The film also performed well on HBO Max, beating out In the Heights and Justice League in terms of streaming numbers.
With all this great news, a Dune sequel being greenlit is inevitable. However, a vital component of this deal was its release. The film will be exclusively available in theaters, with an HBO Max release coming likely after its initial theatrical run.