Despite Dune: Part 2 being pretty much confirmed by its director Denis Villeneuve, any sequel to the highly-anticipated sci-fi epic Dune reportedly depends on how well Part 1 performs on HBO Max. After being postponed 3 times due to the ongoing pandemic, Dune is finally set to premiere simultaneously in-theaters and on HBO Max on October 22nd. Starring some of Hollywood's hottest actors (Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet, Oscar Isaac), the book adaptation is set to be one of 2021's biggest releases. Set to a score from legendary composer Hans Zimmer and co-written by Forrest Gump screenwriter Eric R. Roth, Dune is expected to score big at the global box office.
The film follows the story of Paul Atreides (Chalamet) as he travels with his father, Duke Leto Atreides (Isaac), to the notoriously dangerous planet Arrakis known as "Dune." Set in a complex society in the distant future, Leto accepts the stewardship of the planet, knowing the position is little more than a trap set by his political enemies. The planet holds the only natural source of the universe's most sought-after drug "spice," which is believed to give users superhuman levels of thought, extended lifespans, and faster-than-light travel. After Leto takes control of the planet's spice mining operation, a devastating betrayal leads Paul and Leto's consort, Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), to a group of Arrakis natives living deep in the desert.
As reported by Variety, HBO has yet to greenlight Dune: Part 2, and will allegedly look to its predecessor's performance on HBO Max before making that call. Ahead of Dune: Part 1's release, a spinoff TV series titled Dune: The Sisterhood has already been set in motion at HBO Max, making the studio's decision to not stamp off on a sequel film even more confusing. But with the even more convoluted pandemic box office, it's hard to pinpoint what exactly Warner Bros. considers a success. Generally speaking, when a film fails to sell tickets in theaters, it also tends to go unwatched on streaming services. Regardless of Dune's financial success, its cast and director seem to have faith in the space epic. In addition to Villeneuve calling it his best film yet, Chalamet told reporters at the Venice Film Festival, "I hope we can do a second one," and said working on Dune: Part 2 would be "a dream."
Dune is just one of many pandemic-era films experiencing problems due to a hybrid release (i.e. Scarlet Johansson's Black Widow conundrum). Warner Bros. and HBO Max became the target of public outcry when they announced that all of its 2021 films would have same day theatrical and streaming premieres. Villeneuve himself was one of the most vocal critics against Warner Bros., calling the decision a way to self-promote their streaming service. He further blasted the company's apparent disregard for filmmakers, saying "there is absolutely no love for cinema, nor for the audience here," and later, threatened a lawsuit. Shockingly, it's not the only issue Villeneuve has faced while working with HBO Max. In a recent interview, the director revealed that he tried to shoot Dune Part 1 and Part 2 back-to-back, but was turned down by the studio.
After getting a whopping $165 million-budget from Warner Bros. and facing a year's worth of delays, it's safe to say a lot is riding on the success of Dune. The film and its upcoming spinoff series have major franchise material, but there's a possibility audiences might not feel connected to a lengthy 2.5 hour sci-fi flick—regardless of how impressive its visuals look. But regardless of its theatrical performance, HBO Max has a sizable subscriber base that will hopefully give Dune the numbers it needs to get Dune: Part 2 greenlit. It'll be interesting to see how a film of this scale translates to the pandemic-era box office, and if HBO Max will provide the push Dune needs to earn itself a big-budget sequel.
Source: Variety