When Dune: Part 2 was released last March, many believed it would not be able to solidify the franchise. The first part, although it did very well, came out during the aftermath of COVID-19 and barely surpassed 400 million dollars at the box office, a significant figure but one that was expected to be higher considering the production’s hype.
However, the second part has managed to surpass, and by far, the first one. Although it is normal for sequels to have similar or lower box office revenue, the sequel has surpassed expectations and just reached over 700 million dollars worldwide. This number is not only much higher than anticipated, but it perfectly justifies why Legendary Pictures has quickly announced their third film: Dune: Messiah.
The future of Dune is assured
But it has not only become a box office success, but the critics have also surrendered to the feet of Dune. With a debut on Rotten Tomatoes with 98% positive reviews, the film has only reinforced the followers of Denis Villeneuve, who know that he is one of the best current filmmakers worldwide.
In fact, in addition to confirming Dune: Messiah, Villeneuve is working on two more films in parallel. On one hand, he is preparing a new biopic of Cleopatra with Zendaya in the role of the pharaoh, and on the other hand, he is also working on adapting Nuclear War: A Scenario, a novel by Annie Jacobsen that was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize.
