Villeneuve’s ambitious adaptation of the 1965 novel Dune by Frank Herbert drew acclaim from both critics and audiences, both for its story adaptation and stunning depiction of the desert world Arrakis. The packed cast, including Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya and Javier Bardem, all delivered stellar performances and kept the almost three-hour film captivating throughout. It can be assumed that the cast members whose characters made it through the first film will return in the second, meaning even if few new names sign-on, the sequel will have its fill for star power.
The second instalment will likely continue to follow the story of the novel, exploring the politics of the complex world which Herbert first envisioned whilst fleshing out characters that got little attention. Due to the amount of storytelling required to round off the films in a fitting way, it's probable the sequel will feature another epic runtime, although Villeneuve has proven many times that he is one of the few current filmmakers who can reliably handle a 150+ minute runtime.
The scale of the story may only grow from here, although fans will have to wait the agonising two years to get the full enjoyment of the two in tandem
If the budget is comparable to the first, Villeneuve will have around $170 million at his disposal to bring the world back to life - with much of the money surely being allocated to the recreation of the outstanding effects of the first. Perhaps even more so if Warner Bros. decides the profit potential outweighs the first, which is quite possible given the sequel will have the reception of the first to build hype and credibility. The scale of the story may only grow from here, although fans will have to wait the agonising two years to get the full enjoyment of the two in tandem, something that has the potential to be one of the best Sci-Fi experiences of recent years.