Dune Book Fans’ 3 Major Points Proving It's Time to Let Go of $500M Franchise

Summary:

• Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part 2 has been all the rage recently considering not only its box office success, but also a possibility for a third movie.
• Despite both films’ commercial win and accolades from critics and viewers, some fans fear that Villeneuve may ruin it all in the third film after his changes in the second movie’s ending.
• As Dune: Part 2 keeps grossing millions in the box office, the fate of the franchise isn’t yet decided as the director himself hasn’t made up his mind about it so far.

Dune: Part 2 has been the world’s biggest success of this year’s cinema industry ever since its theatrical release on March 1 — right up to its inevitable upcoming reach of $600 million in the box office or even more major milestones as the film continues its run in the cinemas worldwide.

Considering the movie’s stunning commercial success and Villeneuve’s talks about a possible third film after a break, it doesn’t even come as something questionable that the franchise will live on for at least a while now.

Though there are some not groundless reasons why the director’s plot changes in the second movie can possibly lead to the Dune’s story’s utter crash in the cinema world.

Dune Is the New Star Wars? No, Thank You

The first reason for concern is, however weird it may seem, Villeneuve’s Dune: Part 2’s comparison to George Lucas’ Star Wars, especially The Empire Strikes Back. Such thoughts about two different franchises’ similarities are expressed even by prominent filmmakers like Christopher Nolan.

The point is that it’s a comparison grounded on absolutely incomparable things, given that Dune 2 just follows the events that were started back in the first movie (and in the first book) rather than The Empire Strikes Back forms a story separate from Star Wars’ main plot. Thus, the only possible similarity here is changes that Villeneuve made for Dune: Part 2’s ending.

Zendaya ’s Character on the Verge of Retcon

Another weighty argument on the scale of the Dune’s franchise’s doubtful future is Chani’s storyline. In the film Chani is portrayed by Zendaya and people who are familiar with the book wonder whether the difference between the film’s character and the book’s one will lead Villeneuve to change her fate as well.

In Frank Herbert’s novels Chani knows she will never be considered equal to Paul Atreides’ surroundings — that’s why she gets adjusted and learns how to play the game properly. Villeneuve’s Chani doesn’t seem to be like this as she openly condemns the society’s double standards and thus may end up being in a worse position than her book version.

Dune 3 Can’t Be Just as Good

Lastly, Dune 3 will potentially take the most of its plot from the third book Dune Messiah — which, according to fans, isn’t as good as the previous ones.

It’s surely too early to predict whether Dune 3 will be successful or not — or even whether it will ever come to the screens or not.

Now it’s totally up to Villeneuve to decide if he wants to leave the franchise on a high and prospering note or rather risk everything.