Dune: Part Two is officially happening. Legendary shared a tweet today confirming that the second part of Denis Villeneuve’s latest sci-fi epic has been greenlighted by Warner Bros., and that it’ll premiere in theaters on October 20, 2023. According to sources with Deadline, Dune: Part Two will not have a day-and-date HBO Max release like the original, which debuted on HBO Max alongside its theatrical release last week.
This is only the beginning…
— Legendary (@Legendary) October 26, 2021
Thank you to those who have experienced @dunemovie so far, and those who are going in the days and weeks ahead. We’re excited to continue the journey! pic.twitter.com/mZj68Hnm0A
“I just received news from Legendary that we are officially moving forward with Dune: Part Two,” said Villeneuve. “It was a dream of mine to adapt Frank Herbert’s Dune, and I have the fans, the cast, and crew, Legendary and Warner Bros. to thank for supporting this dream. This is only the beginning.”
“Denis Villeneuve has crafted a film that is both visually extraordinary and emotionally transporting, as evidenced by its global success both critically and at the box office,” said Toby Emmerich, Chairman of Warner Bros Picture Group. “We are thrilled to continue on this journey with Denis and his cast and crew, and our partners at Legendary, and can’t wait to bring the next chapter of this epic tale to theaters in October 2023.”
Dune ended up doing quite well in its opening weekend at theaters despite its day-and-date release on HBO Max. The film managed to earn $41 million, beating initial estimates to become Villeneuve’s biggest domestic opening at the box office.