Production on Dune: Part Two is beginning in Italy.
According to Deadline, Dune: Part Two is about to begin pre-shooting in Altivole, Italy, with full production starting on July 21 in Budapest, Hungary. The outlet notes reports currently claim shooting in Italy is happening at the Brion tomb. That cemetery, which is an example of modernist architecture, was designed by Carlo Scarpa and serves as the resting place for the Brion family.
Directed by Denis Villeneuve, the most recent adaptation of Frank Herbert's 1965 novel Dune released in 2021, having been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The film follows the House of Atreides on the desert planet Arrakis, which is the only source of "spice" in the universe. Spice is necessary for space travel. Soon, the Atreides family finds itself embroiled in a deadly political situation that ends with the murder of Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac) by Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård). At the end of the film, Leto's son, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), ends up in the desert with the Fremen, the native people of Arrakis.
Dune was well-received by critics and currently holds an 83 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The title received ten Academy Award nominations including for Best Picture. While Best Picture went to CODA, Dune won six awards -- the most of any title at the ceremony. Those awards were Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Production Design, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing and Best Visual Effects. Still, the movie was not without controversy, as the film's simultaneous release on HBO Max and in theaters earned the ire of Villeneuve, who noted the importance of the cinematic experience.
Dune: Part Two is expected to adapt the remainder of Herbert's novel, which sees Paul facing off against the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV and getting his revenge on Harkonnen. Recently, the film cast Léa Seydoux as Lady Margot and Christopher Walken as the Emperor. Villeneuve has also said he's open to making a third film in the franchise, which would be based off of Dune Messiah, the 1969 sequel to Dune.
Dune: Part Two is scheduled for release on Nov. 17, 2023. A number of key actors are set to return, including Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Zendaya as Chani, Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck and Javier Bardem as Stilgar.
Source: Deadline