Some of the jaw-dropping finales amongst 2024 film releases was the ending of Dune: Half Two. Whereas it noticed Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides changing into the “chosen one” within the eyes of many, he utterly betrayed Zendaya’s Chani within the course of. Whereas one might need anticipated the ultimate shot of the huge sequel to conclude on Paul, director Denis Villeneuve determined to depart audiences with Chani’s anger in its closing shot. The filmmaker lately shared why, and it has me emotional over the film’s occasions over again.
When the Canadian director spoke to our sister web site GamesRadar+, he shared some extra insights into why he selected to make Chani central to the ultimate second of Dune: Half Two. Apparently, it needed to do with one thing that Frank Herbert felt within the aftermath of his authentic 1965 novel’s launch. In his phrases:
It is one among my favourite photographs. I did that shot and knew I had a film. … The concept was there proper at the beginning once we began to write down this adaptation. All of it got here from the data that Frank Herbert was disillusioned by the best way some folks perceived the primary e-book, pondering that it was a celebration of Paul Atreides. Herbert himself needed to right this notion, as a result of he needed it to be a warning about messianic figures, charismatic figures, individuals who use faith as a type of energy. So, he wrote a second e-book referred to as Dune Messiah.
As followers of Frank Herbert’s e-book might have observed, there are some liberties taken with the ending of the Dune sequel. But these alterations assist strengthen the character of Chani and higher talk the messages of the e-book that many readers initially misinterpreted when the textual content was launched many years in the past. Villeneuve additionally mentioned this:
Realizing that, we tried to respect his early concepts of doing a cautionary story, ensuring that this shall be perceived by the viewers. We had this concept of reworking Chani. Within the e-book she’s within the shadow of Paul, however we needed to present Chani her personal agenda right here, her personal beliefs, her personal story. She has a distinct view of the world from Paul. So, the film was structured round their relationship, then at the beginning of the third act we embrace Chani’s perspective extra. And from her perspective, we are able to see the place Paul deviates from his path, changing into one thing he was afraid to turn into. She turns into our ethical compass. It was due to this fact crucial to complete the film on Chani as that’s our angle, our take.
Dune: Half Two ends on the very shot on the prime of this text. It permits the viewers to really feel the flood of feelings Chani feels after Paul defeats Feyd-Rautha and assumes his title because the Lisan al Gaib, who begins the apocalyptic holy warfare he initially feared from his visions. Whereas everybody bows to Paul within the second that King Shaddam surrenders, Chani is the one one left standing and refusing to take action. After that, the younger Fremen warrior goes her personal method, on the point of depart on a sandworm alone as a combination of unhappiness, concern and anger run over her face. I am getting chills simply desirous about it.
When CinemaBlend spoke to Florence Pugh and Zendaya in regards to the ending earlier this 12 months, they shared that they had been completely “Crew Chani.” Denis Villeneuve’s growth of Chani’s storyline was the right strategy to finish of the second film and underline Frank Herbert’s messages from the primary e-book. The movie’s conclusion is really devastating, and the filmmaker’s feedback are making me really feel these feelings once more. Nonetheless, I really like that he put a lot thought into the conclusion.
As for the remainder of the story, Denis Villeneuve is at present writing the third Dune film based mostly on Messiah, which shall be set 12 years after the occasions of its predecessor, which is in step with the books. The director has spoken about how Chani is inspiring the third film. He didn’t get into specifics however he apparently is aware of “precisely what to do” and is “very excited” about what’s subsequent for the character. Till then, we’re left with that lasting picture of the character’s anger and disgust.
You may try Dune: Half Two proper now with a Max subscription and see the place it lands amongst CinemaBlend’s finest films of 2024.