Dune is returning to the UAE for the sequel—bringing Zendaya, Denis Villeneuve and crew with it. And with how much the film added to the first, how could they stay away?
Legendary Entertainment, who were behind the massive cultural and Academy Award-winning smash Dune, will be returning to Abu Dhabi to shoot the highly-anticipated sequel Dune: Part Two.
“We look forward to returning to the majestic sand dunes of Abu Dhabi and bringing Arrakis to life for Dune: Part Two,” said Villeneuve.
Denis Villeneuve, Zendaya, Timothée Chamalet, Rebecca Ferguson and Javier Bardem are expected to return along with newcomers Austin Butler (Elvis), Christopher Walken, Florence Pugh and Léa Seydoux all potentially making the journey to the UAE’s capital for filming.
Filming will take place in Abu Dhabi’s Liwa Desert for a month later this year, with a team of both local and international talent, supported by the Abu Dhabi Film Comission.
Speaking to me last fall, Villenevue revealed why Abu Dhabi was so important to the original flm.
“What I found in Abu Dhabi is unmatchable,” Villeneuve told me at the time. “There’s a scale to the dunes and the desert in a variety of shapes that we thought was absolutely mesmerizing. There’s also some climatic conditions there that were perfect for us because of the proximity to the city, it’s like a strange kind of haze in that air that I was looking for that matched totally with the look of the film.”
Production will be supported by Epic Films in addition to local partners.
“Dune has again provided us with an exciting opportunity to associate the emirate with another global movie franchise which will allow us to entice enthusiastic fans and audience members to visit the landscapes which they have seen on screen. In Abu Dhabi, we are fortunate to offer incredible architecture, landscapes and a unique culture that brings magic to the big screen. We hope that audiences around the world will get the chance to discover a whole new world in the Liwa desert,” said , HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak.
Added Sam Kozhaya, Legendary’s EVP, Operations and Corporate Development, “Legendary is excited to film this next installment of Dune: Part Two amidst the stunning and majestic geography of Abu Dhabi. The support of Abu Dhabi and its talented artists and crew members is invaluable in realizing the vision for the second chapter of this epic saga.”
Dune: Part Two follows the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he must prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.
Ever since Denis Villeneuve first visited Abu Dhabi looking for a location that would be the planet Arrakis, it was clear that the Emirate’s breath-taking desert landscapes were the perfect setting for his adaptation of Dune. We look forward to the crew returning to help the Liwa Desert reprise its role. In addition to its diverse landscapes, our local talent, world-class facilities and competitive rebate make Abu Dhabi one of the most prominent filming locations for international productions and we are honored to play a part in this award-winning franchise,” Hans Fraikin, Film Commissioner for Abu Dhabi Film Commission.