Summary
Director Denis Villeneuve’sDune: Part Twohas sparked debates on whether its adaptation from authorFrank Herbert’sDunenovelis accurate in story, character depiction, and tone. Generally, adaptations likeDunecannot show all the content from the novel - unless viewers want a four-hour director’s cut. With big franchises such asDune,it’s difficult to change some things from the book without any discourse from viewers.
A major discussion broached fromDune: Part Twowas changes in Chani and Paul’s relationship that may affectthe Dune timeline. Chani (Zendaya) is a native Fremen and daughter of a leader on the desert planet Arrakis, where she meets Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), who is fleeing from the Harkonnen attack on his family on Arrakis. Paul is under Chani’s protection and guidance when the pair eventually fall for each other, butelements of Chani and Paul’s relationship differ between the novel and the film.
Dune 2’s Lisan Al Gaib: Meaning & Prophecy Explained
A huge part of Dune: Part Two’s story centers around the prophecy of the Lisan al Gaib; what is the prophecy and how does it apply to Paul Atreides?
Frank Herbert Gave Paul And Chani A Son, But Not Denis Villenueve
In Villenueve’sDune: Part Two,Chani and Paul are simply in a romantic relationship, whereas in Herbert’sDune, Chani and Paul are functionally married before the Fremen, making him one of them and further adding fighting bodies to his cause. In the novel,Chani and Paul have a son together, Leto II The Elder,who was lost in a fight against the Harkonnens during infancy.Paul and Chani’s child was cut from the film, therefore cutting out important components of Chani’s character being a wife and mother.
Cutting Paul and Chani’s son from the film is one of thebiggest changes from the Dune novel, as well as Chani’s character being altered to fit the film’s narrative. In theDunenovel, Leto II passes away right before Paul takes the throne from the Padishah emperor, and Chani is at Paul’s side moments after grieving her son,the loss bringing them closer through shared trauma. In the film, however, when Paul takes the throne she refuses to bow to him, storming off and creating a mystery aboutwhere Chani goes at the end ofDune: Part Two.
Ignoring Leto II Hurts Paul and Chani’s Dune 2 Relationship
Leto II’s Absence Changes The Book-To-Film Dynamic
Leto II’s exclusion inDune: Part Twodrastically changes the dynamic of Chani and Paul’s relationship, as the child was a symbol of their devotion and commitment to each other. Even though he is abruptly brought in and departed in theDunenovel,Leto II’s role was important in showcasing their bond and Chani’s unwavering loyalty to Paul. The film ignored their son, wasting the potential of portraying how solid Paul and Chani’s marriage was, and instead replaced Leto II with Chani’s narrative of disapproval towards Paul’s rise to power.
The film’s exclusion of Chani being a wife and mother severely downplays her original devotion to her people and Paul.
The film cutting out Leto II also changesDune’sChani, since her devotion to Paul is significant to her devastating ending and role in his power-play. Chani’s characterat the end of theDunebooksis tragic - Paul’s political marriage to Princess Irulan enabled the Padishah house to give Chani contraceptives, so they can have heirs, which irreversibly damages Chani’s health, resulting in her traumatic death in childbirth. Chani’s loyalty to Paul goes up until her end, whereasthe film’s exclusion of Chani being a wife and mother severely downplays her original devotion to her people and Paul.
Cutting Leto II Makes Sense For Dune: Part Two’s Story
It’s For The Best Director Denis Villenueve Excluded This Narrative
Chani and Paul’s son was cut fromDune: Part Twobecause the narrative wouldn’t have been cohesive, since they only have a romantic relationship - not a marriage - and a time-jump to accommodate Leto II would have jumbled the run-time. Zendaya’s Chani is more unconstrained given she isn’t bound by marriage nor motherhood, allowing her the choice to walk away.Dune: Part Twowas right to cut Paul and Chani’s childbecausethe film focuses not only on Chani’s independence, but her voice of disapproval of Paul’s colonization.
Herbet’s overarching message inDuneis that Paul is no hero: he’s a colonist who used people as bodies to fall for his cause - Chani’s people. Villenueve needed a clearer way to portray howChani’s change is crucial to Paul being an anti-heroinDune: Part Two,and what better way than to show it through her disapproval. Leto II in the novel reinforces their bond, but he would’ve impacted the narrative cohesion that sets up Chani’s distaste for Paul’s conquest, so changing her character allowed audiences to witness Chani’s exploration of her own beliefs instead of blindly following Paul.
Chani’s character in Frank Herbert’sDuneversus Denis Villenueve’sDune: Part Twois drastically different, as Chani cannot walk away from her duties in the book, as the film (as of now) portrays Chani as a voice of disapproval to Paul. Chani’s skepticism of Paul’s rise sets up Villenueve’s next adaptation,Dune Messiah, following Paul as emperor and the bloodbath that follows his reign. Until the next film is released, audiences will have to be left wonderingif Chani’s character will follow in the footsteps of the book’s tragic ending, or if she will change even more.
Dune: Part Two
Cast
Dune: Part Two continues the epic saga of Paul Atreides as he allies with Chani and the Fremen. Pursuing retribution for his family’s devastation, Paul grapples with a significant decision impacting his personal desires and the universe’s future, attempting to avert a dire destiny that only he anticipates.
