We’ve fought alongside Paul Atreides in Dune: Part One as he struggled to understand his unexpected fate and that of his people. Paul carried the future of his planet in his hands, and, unfortunately, the new planet he travelled to wasn’t as kind as he’d hoped. In the sequel, Dune: Part Two, Paul is determined to have his revenge on those who caused the collapse of his world and stand in the way of the fulfilment of his destiny.
Dune: Part Two might show that revenge is a strong incentive. However, it shows that love, family and loyalty are all worth fighting for. We travel alongside the Filming cast to the old and new filming locations that brought this new film to life.
Who are the stars we see again in Dune: Part Two?
Several artists reprise their original roles from the first Dune film. Timothée Chalamet, from Little Women and whom we can’t wait to see as Wonka, returns as Paul, the main male protagonist and the main incentive behind many of the new film’s events. Joining Chalamet is Zendaya as Chani, the main female protagonist and his ultimate love. Dune: Part Two adds a new dimension to their relationship when Princess Irulan appears in the picture.
Lady Jessica Atreides, played by Rebecca Ferguson, returns in Dune: Part Two to fight alongside Paul in his journey for revenge. We loved Ferguson’s character, Ilsa, in the Mission Impossible franchise and The Greatest Showman. Josh Brolin will bring Gurney Halleck to life once again in Dune: Part Two.
And who are the new stars joining in?
A group of successful and talented stars joined the Dune: Part Two cast. Esteemed American actor Christopher Walken, our all-time favourite horsed villain from Sleepy Hollow, plays the daring Emperor Shaddam IV. The elegant and beautiful Florence Pugh, famous for her roles in Little Women and Outlaw King, will play Princess Irulan Corrino, who finds herself in a complex relationship with Paul and Chani. We get the talented Austin Butler, whose portrayal of Elvis skyrocketed his reputation, who will play a featureless Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen. Léa Seydoux, from Bond’s No Time to Die film, joins the cast as Lady Margot.
Dune: Part Two Filming Locations Around the Globe
If you watch the Dune: Part Two trailer, you will feel as if you’re standing in the middle of the desert. Even when the film shows fancy residences of the princesses or even the Emperor, the desert feel lingers in your head. This is entirely justified since filming took place in some of the world’s unusual and expansive desserts, Wadi Rum, in Jordan and the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi. They also filmed in Hungary and Italy, two of the most architecturally rich countries in the world.
Budapest, Hungary
The Hungarian capital is often referred to as the City of Spas for the abundance of thermal water baths and spa-like facilities that give the city an ancient Roman or Ottoman feel. This city was the first stop the filming cast of Dune: Part Two headed to in their filming journey. Once a Celtic settlement before the 1st century AD, Budapest has a remarkable history of standing up to invaders and oppressors such as the Mongols. Budapest became Hungarian in the 9th century, and the city remained under Ottoman rule from the first quarter of the 16th century for 150 years.
Budapest earned its current name in 1873, after its initial name, Pest-Buda. This cultural, architectural, economic and historic hub is a favourable destination for many tourists. Going around the city you can see the Danube River as it conquers the neighbourhoods. The city’s centre maintained its classical architectural elements, such as the Hungarian Parliament, a vivid example of classical Roman architecture.
What we can recommend to see when visiting Budapest is endless. You can soak in the city’s spirit by heading to its centre, basking in architectural beauty, and visiting the 13th-century Buda Castle, which combines four architectural styles and the nearby Fisherman’s Bastion. The 19th-century Hungarian Parliament is a majestic building that boasts Gothic Revival, Baroque and Renaissance styles. You can visit the early 19th-century St Stephen’s Basilica and the magnificent 11th-century Matthias Church.
Even though we’ll stop here because our complete Budapest guide will take you around all the must-see places around the city, we must say that what we saw in Dune: Part One was a scorching desert and bare cliffs, which isn’t what we expected when visiting Budapest. However, as the trailer of Dune: Part Two is out, we are optimistic that the filming cast employed the unique beauty of the Hungarian capital well into the story.
Altivole, Treviso, Italy
The new filming location of Dune: Part Two is the community of Altivole in the Italian district, Treviso, which is part of the Veneto Region. This small community hosted Corrino’s House in the film and is the place where Emperor Padishah, Shaddam IV, lives with his family. While the Dune: Part Two trailer doesn’t show us where the Emperor lives exactly, we anticipate the producers used the Brion Sanctuary for inspiration.
The mid-20th-century burial is a wonderful example of modernist architecture and a depiction of the designer Carlo Scarpa’s belief that burial grounds are the final resting gardens for the soul. Scarpa is buried in the municipal adjacent cemetery. All these characteristics confirm our thoughts regarding Emperor Shaddam IV’s residence.
What else can you do in Treviso?
When you’re anywhere in Italy, the question of what to do or visit has hundreds of answers. Treviso is famous for its lively piazzas, natural parks and outstanding museums. You can visit the city’s Parco Naturale Regionale del Fiume Sile, an exciting wildlife park perfect for kids. Or you can head to the Luigi Bailo art museum for some incredible works of art or head to the city’s Piazza dei Signori to explore the local shops and feast your eyes on the city’s deep historical architecture.
On a broader scale, if we look at the Veneto Region, there are more interesting landmarks that should make it on your bucket list. The mid-16th century Palladian style Villa Barbaro is a reflection of the Renaissance period in Italian history. In addition to the prestigious mansion, the Villa Barbaro also has an adjoining temple, The Tempietto Barbaro, a classical model church possibly dating back to the late 16th century.
We’d like to recommend heading to the summit of Mount Ricco in Asolo to enjoy the breathtaking views from the unfamiliar Rocca di Asolo. The mighty fortress has an unfamiliar and irregular shape, contributing to its beauty and giving a bird’s eye view of the town below.
Wadi Rum, Jordan
Beautiful Jordan hosted the filming cast of Dune: Part Two for the second time after the first part concluded filming in 2019. The sweltering Wadi Rum received the filming cast once again. This magnificent wadi was described as a depiction of Mars on Earth due to its reddish tones and unusual rock formations. This uniqueness made the wadi the perfect location for previous hit films like Matt Damon’s The Martian.
Looking at what you can do in Wadi Rum, we can recommend you stay in one of the best hotels in the region. The hotel rooms are actual domes, which, when you look at them from afar, you truly feel you’re in space. From there, you can head to visit Petra, one of Jordan’s wonderous landmarks. You can enjoy desert safari trips and roam the beautiful sand dunes.
What else can you do in Jordan?
The list goes on; you can take a ride back to the Jordanian capital, Amman, and enjoy visiting its numerous museums, such as the Jordan Museum, head to the nearby Amman Citadel for a fantastic trip through history, or you can wander about through the city’s numerous souqs, there’s a souq for everything you can think about. Our personal favourite is trying to find the perfect Thawb, or traditional Jordanian costume, that fits you. Believe us, it’s the best gift you can get yourself or your loved ones.
We cannot forget to recommend spending a day by the Dead Sea. This spellbinding body of salty water will have you standing in awe at its magnificence. “You can always float in the Dead Sea.”, someone once said. They also said you could use the sea’s clay as a mineral treatment for your face and body; the high iodine levels in the seawater help drain toxins from the human body.
Abu Dhabi, UAE
The Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi, hosts some of the world’s magical deserts and sand dunes. The seemingly endless Al-Rub’ Al-Khaly or Empty Quarter desert welcomed the Dune: Part Two filming crew for the second time. Liwa Oasis in the Empty Quarter was the crew’s main filming location in the desert. This wondrous oasis is a breathtaking spectacle among the desert’s rigid sandy environment.
When you take Abu Dhabi’s highway, you will cut through the middle of the oasis, where you’ll find breathtaking palm trees on each side, which makes us wonder where all the trees went in the film. However, the oasis presents, in part, a suitable location for the film’s events.
Abu Dhabi and its neighbour, Dubai, have become two popular filming destinations in the past years. We can thank Tom Cruise and his Mission Impossible franchise for directing the filmmakers’ eyes to the two charming cities. The Abu Dhabi agenda has all your heart’s desires, from unique local museums such as The Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi to the regal Presidential Palace and the fantastic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Or you can experience the wonderful desert like the Dune: Part Two filming cast and go on a day trip to the desert.
Dune: Part Two is a promise of more excitement, firey desert fumes, a black and white world that sends shrills down the spine, and creatures out of this world that we’re confident will leave us wondering, “How did the writer think of these creatures?”
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