What Happens After the Events of ‘Dune 2’?

Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for “Dune: Part Two” and the plot of “Dune Messiah.”

The big picture

• Dune: second part
  sees Paul as the Emperor facing the consequences of his actions, new factional threats, and the rise of his downfall.
• Paul's struggles with visions, relationships, and enemies lead to Chani's death, the birth of twins with unique abilities, and his ultimate sacrifice.
• The conflict escalates with conspiracies and attempts on Paul's life, leading to a final confrontation with the Tleilaxu and Paul's decision to accept his fate.

with Dune: second part now out, it's time to return to Arrakis and follow the rise of Paul Muad'Dib Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and the Fremen against the oppression of House Harkonnen. Denis VilleneuveThe sequel of 's ends this part of his story and concludes the adaptation of Frank Herbertthe first dune novel, but that is not the end of Paul's legend. In fact, Villeneuve often talks about how his vision for the franchise includes adapting the following novel, Dune Messiahthat would end his time at the helm. This is a whole new chapter in the Atreides family saga and brings many new challenges to Paul and his followers after the events of second part — and some old faces returning too.

After “Dune: Part Two”, Paul Atreides must face new threats and schemes

At the end of Dune: second partPaul defeats the Harkonnen and Emperor Padishah Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken), becoming the Emperor of the Known Universe himself. Most of the visions he has dune i second part come true, especially those in which he leads the Fremen on a jihad across the universe. Billions die, and Paul's visions indicate that there are even worse things to come. Eventually, all planets and the Landsraad fall under their rule, and Fremen legions begin to spread across these planets to secure their allegiance. Paul's visions show him the golden path, the only future outcome in which humanity can be saved, but he refuses to commit, as it would force him to renounce his humanity.

As Paul's jihad grows beyond his control, enemy factions begin to organize to defeat him. Among these opposing factions are the Bene Gesserit and the Space Guild, as well as House Corrino. The Bene Gesserit see Paul's rule as a major obstacle to their ultimate plan, even though they engineered their existence through their secret breeding program in the first place. For the Spacing Guild, Arrakis becoming the center of the new Empire means that spices are becoming more expensive and harder to come by, as House Atreides and the Fremen are now in control of spice production. For House Corrino, losing the throne is the worst possible scenario, even though Paul married Shaddam IV's daughter, Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh), to consolidate his power at the end of dune.

The biggest threat, however, is the Tleilaxu. They are an order of genetically altered humans from the planet Tleilax who have specialized in producing genetically altered humans who can change their faces—called “Face Dancers”—and in resurrecting dead people as slaves, calling them “Gholas”. And of course the Tleilaxu have their own agenda of universe domination. Finally, a Spacing Guild Navigator named Edric, Princess Irulan, and a face dancer named Scytale come up with a plan in which Paul has a gift he can't refuse: a Ghola from Duncan Idaho (Jason Momoa). Gholas are ships that can be programmed just like computers. This one isn't even called Duncan, but Hayt, and he fills all the roles and jobs that once belonged to Duncan.

Paul struggles with visions of his family's future

As emperor, one of Paul's most immediate responsibilities is to ensure the continuation of his line. At the end of dunemarries Princess Irulan, but a Dune Messiah he refuses to treat her as his wife, although he is always respectful and courteous to her. His de facto wife is actually his Fremen concubine, Chani (Zendaya), which, in turn, has proved incapable of giving Paul an heir.

Chani and Irulan have a good relationship though Irulan has been giving Chani contraceptives without her knowledge. Paul, whose prescience has become increasingly powerful and uncontrollable, is aware of this but decides to do nothing due to visions of a future in which Chani dies in childbirth. Eventually, Chani decides to switch to a Fremen fertility diet without telling Irulan, becoming pregnant right after. However, the unknown use of contraceptives poses a danger, and she grows weaker and weaker. As Paul foretold, Chani dies after giving birth to twins, Leto II and Ghanima Atreides. Paul had predicted Ghanima's birth, but Leto's is a surprise. Due to Paul and Chani's constant contact with the species, both brothers are born fully conscious and with Kwisatz Haderach levels of prescience.

When Paul accepts the Ghola Hayt, his relationship with the Fremen begins to strain. The native Arrakis consider the Tleilaxu and their practices impure, and Muad'Dib having a Tleilaxu Ghola in his house is seen as an offense, although Duncan Idaho used to be close to the Fremen. At the palace, however, Hayt fulfills his purpose and even develops a romantic relationship with Alia Atreides, Paul's younger sister who is born at the end of dune.

A conflict between the Fremen and Paul's enemies marks the beginning of his downfall

Through his visions, Paul sees signs of a Tleilaxu plot to assassinate him, while a Fremen faction plots to kill him. To ensure Muad'Dib's safety, a Fedaykin named Otheym gives him a Tleilaxu servant named Bijaz, who has Mentat abilities and is supposed to record Paul's every move. As the Fedaykin confront the Fremen conspirators, the Tleilaxu ignite an atomic weapon called a stone burner, which levels the entire area and leaves Paul blind. He still has his powerful prescience, though, and he can continue to work against the conspiracy by moving in step with his visions. When the news of Chani's death reaches Paul, his reaction triggers Hayt's drive to kill him. However, the Ghola's genetic memory prevents this, and Duncan Idaho's consciousness and memories are restored.

After these events, Paul's prescience begins to fade. The final confrontation with the Tleilaxu begins when Scytale disguises herself as Otheym's daughter and infiltrates the Atreides' palace on Arrakis. He holds a knife to Leto and Ghanima's throats and tempts Paul with the offer to resurrect Chani as Ghola in exchange for his abdication. Unable to see Paul takes advantage of his connection to Leto and their shared bloodline, now seeing the whole room through his son's eyes. This allows him to throw a dagger at Scytale, killing the Tleilaxu and saving their children. This cannot last, however, as Paul cannot use his son's eyes forever.

Now truly blind, he decides to follow an old Fremen tradition, whereby the blind enter the wilderness alone. His sacrifice wins back the loyalty of the Fremen to their children, who are left under Irulan's tutelage after having a change of heart with Chani's death. Alia is left as regent of the Atreides Empire until the twins come of age, and continues her romantic relationship with Duncan. He also has all the conspirators executed, thus providing a safe environment for the twins to grow up. In the end, Duncan reflects on how Paul was able avoid being deified by reinforcing his status as a mortal man in the eyes of the Fremen, and how, in his death, he was able to overcome his enemies by ensuring the continuation of his line.

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