Dune 2, the long-awaited second part of Denis Villeneuve’s epic adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic novel, had its world premiere in London on Thursday night.
The premiere, which took place at Leicester Square, was a star-studded affair, as the cast and crew of the film walked the red carpet and greeted the enthusiastic crowd.
Among the celebrities who made an appearance were Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, and Villeneuve himself.
Zendaya, who plays Chani, Paul Atreides’ love interest and Fremen guide, stole the show with her stunning metallic suit, which some compared to C-3PO from Star Wars.
Chalamet, who plays the prophesied hero Paul, also delighted the fans with his selfies and autographs.
The actors and the director praised the film and each other, expressing their relief and excitement to finally share it with the public.
Pugh, who joins the cast as Princess Irulan, the Emperor’s daughter, said that her character was different from anything she has ever done before. Even Villeneuve, who also directed the first film, told BBC that he was “biting his nails” until the film hit the cinemas.
Dune 2 continues the story of Paul Atreides (Chalamet) and his quest to liberate the desert planet Arrakis from the tyrannical Emperor Shaddam IV (Stellan Skarsgård). The film follows the events of the first one, which ended with Paul and his mother Jessica (Ferguson) joining the Fremen, the native people of Arrakis, who are oppressed by the Emperor and his allies, the Harkonnens.
Paul, who has visions of the future and possesses extraordinary abilities, must lead the Fremen in a rebellion against the Emperor and his nephew Feyd-Rautha (Butler), while also dealing with his feelings for Chani and his destiny as the messiah of the Fremen.
Dune 2 is expected to be a box office hit, as the first film was widely acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, and earned more than $400 million worldwide. The film will be released in cinemas on March 1st, 2024.
