'Dune: Part Two' will amp up the action, director Villeneuve says

Director Denis Villeneuve told press that "Dune: Part Two" will have more action and quick plot development than the first movie did.

“Dune: Part Two” director Denis Villeneuve met with the local press at the Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Friday. [YONHAP]

“Dune: Part Two” will be better than its previous counterpart, according to director Denis Villeneuve.

“If Part One was an introduction, Part Two is where the action is,” Villeneuve told Korean press on Friday at CGV's Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan District, central Seoul. “We start right in the middle of conflict this time, and the plot unfolds very quickly.”

Part Two picks up right where Part One left off, following actor Timothée Chalamet’s character, Paul Atreides, as he fully realizes his power and embarks on a journey to avenge the death of his father and the fall of his family. It is slated for release next February.

Villeneuve, born in Canada, is one of Hollywood’s leading directors and has helmed thriller and sci-fi films such as “Sicario” (2015),” “Arrival” (2016) and “Blade Runner 2049” (2017) to great critical and commercial acclaim.

A Korean poster for ″Dune: Part Two,″ which is set for release in February 2024 [WARNER BROS KOREA]

Villeneuve said that he particularly focused on developing relationships among characters, like the romance between Paul and Chani, who is played by Zendaya.

“If Part One was an introduction, Part Two is where the action is,” he said.

“I feel very proud of the outcome and more happy with it than Part One. I am so impatient and looking forward to sharing it with everyone.”

But making the sequel wasn't easy.

Villeneuve said that he wanted to release the movie as soon as possible, largely because Part Two is a direct continuation of Part One.

“We never left Arrakis [a fictional planet in ‘Dune’],” said Villeneuve. “I’d say it was one of the most challenging things that I’ve done. There was no gap in filming in between, and the schedule was crazy.”

The first “Dune” movie premiered in Korea last October and was a hit almost immediately.

“Dune” grossed $402 million worldwide and attracted 1.54 million moviegoers despite hitting the theaters during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Villeneuve was incredibly touched by the love the movie received in Korea and expressed sincere gratitude to the audiences who came to theaters to enjoy his work.

“As a director, I make films thinking that they will be watched inside the theater and take into account things like sounds and angles of camera accordingly, so it is great to hear that Koreans are still drawn to theaters.”

His “Dune” films are adaptations of author Frank Herbert's popular science fiction franchise known by the same title. Part One and Two of Villeneuve’s movie fully cover the first book, according to the director. Herbert's “Dune” spans a total of six books. Part Three, for Villeneuve, is still up in the air.

“It was such a hectic schedule filming for the two ‘Dune’ movies that I think I might need a break,” he said. “Maybe I’ll come back to it after a detour.”

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]