Dune star Javier Bardem has teased the surprising nature of the upcoming sequel, Dune: Part Two, something which he says will shock even those who have read the novel. Speaking at a Q&A at the Cannes Film Festival 2022, Bardem explained how director Denis Villeneuve has put the follow-up together “in a way that is gonna surprise people.”

As well as heaping praise on the Dune: Part Two filmmaker, Bardem revealed how much the script for the sequel moved him, teasing the emotion and spectacle that will be on display. How exactly the structure of Dune: Part Two will surprise those who already know the story remains to be seen, but one thing we do know about the second part is that Javier Badem will have a much bigger role in the proceedings.

“I’ve read the new draft, and I think they’ve done an amazing job of putting together the pieces in a way that is gonna surprise people. They won’t be surprised [by what happens], obviously, because they’ve read the book, but they’ll be surprised by the way they put it together. I was very moved by it. It’s a movie that is full, and you can feel the weight of it, and at the same time [you can enjoy] the spectacularity of it. [I can’t wait] to go back to the desert with those people, and I’m so happy to go back with Denis, who is one of the greatest directors ever. He’s a lovely man.”

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After having a rather small role in the first movie, Bardem has since stated that he will have a much bigger part to play in Dune: Part Two. “And he [Denis Villeneuve] said, ‘I have a small role, if there is such a thing as the second part of the book the role will be bigger [in Dune 2],” the actor said earlier this year. “And I would love you to do it if you want to.’ And I said, ‘Of course I want to. I don’t care if there’s a second movie or not. I don’t care about how big or small the role [is]. I love what you do as a director.’ And then it happens, as it usually happens, really, that those great directors are also great people.”

Dune 2 Adds Austin Butler, Christopher Walken & Maybe Florence Pugh to the Cast

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Adapted from Frank Herbert’s seminal novel, Dune transports audiences to the far future, as Duke Leto Atreides accepts stewardship of the dangerous desert planet Arrakis, the only source of the most valuable substance in the universe, “melange,” AKA “the spice.” Though Leto knows the opportunity is an intricate trap set by his enemies, he takes his concubine Lady Jessica, young son and heir Paul, and most trusted advisors to Arrakis, where a bitter betrayal leads Paul and Jessica to the Fremen, natives of Arrakis who live in the deep desert.

Released earlier this year, the first Dune features an all-star cast alongside Javier Bardem, including Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya, David Dastmalchian, Chang Chen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, and Jason Momoa. If that were not already impressive enough, the sequel will add Elvis star Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha and Christopher Walken as Emperor Shaddam IV of House Corrino. Black Widow star Florence Pugh is also hotly rumored to be joining the all-star cast as Princess Irulan.

Dune: Part Two is set to be released on October 20, 2023.