10 Dune Messiah Moments Denis Villeneuve Can’t Wait To Bring To The Screen

If Denis Villeneuve can successfully translate the significant scenes and character interactions from Dune Messiah, as they were depicted in Frank Herbert’s original novel, it could become one of his most outstanding films. Yet, the book contains numerous unusual and challenging concepts that may prove challenging to bring to life on the cinema screen.

It’s reassuring that Villeneuve has demonstrated twice before that he’s an ideal director for Herbert’s works, and there’s no reason to expect Dune Messiah will be any exception. While he’s introduced some adjustments within the Dune universe, they’ve all been thoughtfully planned and significantly enhance the narrative. This trend is likely to continue with his upcoming third film as well.

10. Scytale’s Arrival on Arrakis

The Face Dancer Plays A Huge Role In The Story

Scytale is one of the intriguing new characters found in “Dune Messiah”. Being a Face Dancer, he possesses the unique ability to mimic others’ appearances and assume their identities whenever necessary. Throughout the book, the villain employs this talent cunningly to subtly penetrate Emperor Paul’s (Timothée Chalamet) inner circle, masterminding a perilous assassination attempt from behind the scenes.

One frequent point of contention about the novel “Dune Messiah” is also its key advantage. Compared to Herbert’s first novel, it moves at a slower pace and contains less action. Instead, it leans more towards political intrigue, distinguishing itself from Dune, which is characterized as a sci-fi adventure story. A significant portion of the narrative is presented through Scytale’s viewpoint as he arrives on Arrakis and delves into the local culture. Given Villeneuve’s directing style, this should result in some incredibly immersive scenes in the upcoming adaptation.

9. Chani’s Rivalry With Irulan

The Two Women Have Different Roles In Paul’s Life

A significant secondary theme in Dune Messiah involves the complex competition between Chani (portrayed by Zendaya) and Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh), both of whom are seeking Paul’s affection in unique ways. While Paul is deeply in love with Chani, Irulan requires an heir to solidify her power over the Empire. This results in a rather unusual love scenario, as Paul finds himself caught between his heart’s desire and the responsibility to maintain his rule.

In the novel “Dune Messiah,” Princess Irulan takes on a more sinister role than in the first book. Instead of merely aiding Scytale and the Bene Gesserit, she actively participates in their plot to kill Paul. Moreover, she repeatedly doses Chani with poison to prevent her from bearing an imperial heir. This intricate relationship between Irulan and Chani will likely be pivotal in Denis Villeneuve’s forthcoming movie, given the significant alterations he’s made to Chani’s character.

8. The Conspiracy To Overthrow Paul

The Bene Gesserit Are Part Of A Dangerous Rebellion

In the novel “Dune Messiah,” multiple narrative threads are intricately woven together, but the primary focus revolves around the persistent attempt on Paul Atreides’ life. The new Emperor has faced widespread disfavor across the known universe due to his ruthless war against the Great Houses, and it is this opposition that ultimately coalesces to bring about his downfall in “Messiah.

Considering the extensive exploration of politics and secrecy in the book, it’s plausible that Villeneuve will devote significant screen time to the Bene Tleilax and Bene Gesserit rather than reprising the characters from Dune. Characters such as Scytale and the Reverend Mother are pivotal in this intrigue, providing an opportunity for the movie to delve deeply into the complex, suspenseful narrative style that sets the book apart.

7. Alia’s Romance With Hayt

Paul’s Sister Has A Strange Romance With His Old Mentor

In the Dune series, one of the most surprising romantic connections may develop between Alia Atreides (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Hayt (Jason Momoa). Their unconventional bond is forged during the storyline of Dune Messiah. Although Alia hasn’t made her appearance in Villeneuve’s adaptations as of yet, due to a substantial time leap, she will undoubtedly take on a major role in the third film.

In the narrative, Hayt serves as a duplicate of Duncan Idaho, crafted artificially and utilized by Scytale for infiltrating Paul’s court with an intention to assassinate him at a strategically advantageous moment. However, things don’t go according to plan when Hayt develops respect for Paul and even falls in love with his younger sister. This romantic aspect is one of the few tender moments found within the grim and somber atmosphere of Dune Messiah.

6. Hayt Fails To Kill Paul

The Ghola Begins To Reclaim His Identity

As a movie critic, I must confess that upon its release, “Dune Messiah” was met with a storm of criticism for straying so far from Herbert’s original novel in terms of theme and narrative. However, one aspect that nearly every reader could agree on was the intriguing portrayal of Hayt. The fact that he is physically indistinguishable from Duncan yet spiritually distinct is an idea that captivated me. His relationship with Paul serves to underscore just how deeply these characters have been molded by the relentless tide of conflict, making for a compelling watch.

In the novel Dune Messiah, there are instances where Hayt is triggered by the Bene Tleilax to assassinate the Emperor, but he ultimately doesn’t succeed. These scenes have the potential to be thrilling action sequences in Villeneuve’s adaptation, leveraging the impressive fight choreography that was a standout feature of the first two movies.

5. Chani’s Childbirth And Death

Paul’s Lover Falls Victim To The Bene Gesserit’s Politics

The tale of Chani has undergone significant alterations in Villeneuve’s version, as she chooses an unforeseen path at the end of the second Dune film, opting not to stay with Paul as his concubine. This is a stark contrast to Herbert’s original work, and it will undoubtedly have profound effects on the narrative of Dune Messiah. In the novel, their relationship between Paul and Chani continues to flourish despite Irulan’s manipulations, and Chani eventually passes away after delivering their twins.

In the conclusion of Dune: Part Two, Paul and Chani are apart, yet it seems highly probable that they’ll reunite in Dune Messiah. The storyline of this series revolves around their children being born, but Denis Villeneuve isn’t bound to follow the same path. Watching how he alters their relationship in Dune Messiah will be intriguing, even though Chani’s demise promises to be a deeply moving moment on screen.

4. Paul Murders Scytale

Scytale’s Final Moments Highlight Paul’s Brutality

In the closing chapters of ‘Dune Messiah’, Paul meets a tragic demise when he coldly slays the Face Dancer, having discovered that this individual was orchestrating the plot to assassinate him, following shortly after the passing of Chani.

As a die-hard cinephile, let me rephrase that for you: Instead, I’m the one who takes out Scytale. This act is a pivotal moment for me, filled with raw brutality, signifying the beginning of the end for the Atreides Emperor. Not only have I lost the one person I deeply cared for, but I’m also grappling with an intricate web of conspiracy that will stop at nothing to see me fall. If the whispers are true about Robert Pattinson portraying Scytale in Dune Messiah, this scene could be one of the most gripping and emotionally charged in the entire film.

3. The Guild Navigators

Edric Will Be A Huge Challenge To Adapt

In the Dune universe, there’s a diverse array of strange and fascinating beings that add depth to the expansive futurescape. So far, Villeneuve has impressively brought all these creatures to life on the big screen. Nevertheless, the Guild Navigator might prove to be his toughest endeavor yet. These genetically enhanced humans work for the Space Guild and reside in colossal antigravity tanks saturated with spice, altering their physique and imbuing them with fish-like traits.

It’s quite challenging to envision how Villeneuve will bring these creatures to life without them appearing overly cartoonish or ridiculous. Some people even speculate that he might choose to exclude these creatures from the story entirely. However, doing so would mean losing one of the most intriguing characters in Dune Messiah, Edric – a Guild Navigator who shares information with the Bene Gesserit as part of their plot against Paul, and is an essential element in the narrative.

2. Paul’s Exile Into The Desert

Paul Decides To Sacrifice Himself To Protect His Children

Towards the close of “Dune Messiah”, Paul Atreides’ heartrending tale reaches its conclusion. Having sacrificed his own humanity to shield those dear to him, Paul realizes he can no longer rule as Emperor, and instead chooses to retreat into the sands of Arrakis.

In a powerful turn of events for Paul, he chooses to journey into the desert and let himself perish. This action signifies that he’s embracing Fremen traditions and no longer attempting to manipulate them as Muad’Dib. He recognizes that prolonging life further would only lead to more political divisions and intrigues, potentially tarnishing his family’s reputation and undermining his children’s authority as rulers of the empire.

1. The Stone Burner

The Bene Tleilax Hold One Of Dune’s Most Powerful Weapons

In the most impactful and gut-wrenching sequence within “Dune Messiah”, a pivotal moment revolves around the Stone Burner, an atomic device used by the Bene Tleilax to assassinate Paul among the Fremen on Arrakis. This event not only reveals the vastness of the plot against him, but it also underscores the cold-blooded ruthlessness of the Bene Tleilax, as their weapon indiscriminately claims the lives of numerous innocent Fremen.

At the end of the book, the atomic explosion leaves Paul in darkness, causing him to be exiled into the desert according to Fremen tradition. In Villeneuve’s previous Dune films, there were many grand scenes such as Paul riding the Sandworm and the attack on Arrakeen. However, if done correctly, the Stone Burner scene from Dune Messiah could match or even surpass them in scale.

2025-05-29 22:12