Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Dune: Part Two
Zendaya’s increased role in Dune: Part Two is not just an exciting development for fans of the 27-year-old Euphoria and Spider-Man star, addressing a major critique of the original movie, but also represents one of the sci-fi epic’s best changes to the novel. After featuring heavily in trailers and promotional material for Dune: Part One, some viewers were disappointed that Zendaya did not feature more prominently in the original 2021 film. Although this made sense within the context of the story, it was nonetheless a surprise to see her character play such a peripheral role.
Dune: Part Two has corrected this. The movie centers around the resolution of Paul Atreides’ war against his Harkonnen enemies, enlisting the help of Arrakis’ native Fremen to achieve his goals. As he and the Fremen fight for the planet’s freedom, they must contend with a prophecy that identifies Paul as a messianic figure destined to lead the Fremen to greatness. This basic plots generally tracks with Frank Herbert’s original 1965 source novel, which addresses themes like fate and fanatacism. However, while Zendaya’s character, Chani, is an important player in the book, her Dune: Part Two role has been subtly tweaked, and arguably improved.
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Chani Plays A Major Role In Dune 2 After Small First Movie Appearance
Although she appears in a number of Paul Atreides’ visions and dream sequences, Chani is very much a supporting player in Dune: Part One. In fact, with the exception of Javier Bardem’s Stilgar, the Fremen themselves spend most of the movie on the periphery, with the action centering on the Harkonnen/Atreides conflict and the fall of Paul’s father, Leto. Chani only begins to emerge as a significant character in Dune: Part One‘s ending, acting as a pseudo-mentor figure for Paul before his fight with Jamis.
This is changed dramatically for Dune: Part Two. Not only is Chani quickly established as Paul’s main love interest, but she becomes an impressive leading character in her own right – engaging in battle against the Harkonnens and proving herself a capable fighter. The development of her and Paul’s relationship is given even greater detail than what is seen in the book, making Chani a well-rounded and relatable character. This approach justifies the promise in Dune: Part One that, despite her limited screen time, Zendaya’s Dune character really is as important as the first movie teased.
Dune 2’s Chani Role Gives Zendaya More Time To Shine
Although her limited appearances in Dune: Part One make sense following the completion of the story, there’s no doubt that Dune: Part Two provides Zendaya with more to do as a performer. While Villeneuve’s first movie was praised for its sumptuous visuals, numerous dream sequences featuring Zendaya striding about on the sand with little dialogue were not the best examples of her dramatic prowess. By contrast, Dune: Part Two gives her significantly more to do.
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Chani’s role encompasses everything from action to romance, as well as a good deal of conflict. One of the biggest changes from the source material is that she is openly skeptical of Paul – one of the few Fremen to voice their doubts about his status. This requires a great deal of nuance in her performance, as she both recognizes Paul’s importance as a leader while being wary of his effect on her fellow countrymen. Combined with the romantic atrraction between the pair, Chani’s Dune: Part Two role becomes a complex web of contradictions that Zendaya does well to embody.
Dune 2 Changes Chani’s Role From The Book For The Better
The decision to make Chani unconvinced by Paul’s status as the Fremen messiah is a bold departure from the book. In Herbert’s novel, it is Paul himself who is most doubtful of his adulation by the Fremen – aware as he is of its consequences for the universe. Yet by giving Chani additional autonomy, Villeneuve’s film not only makes a more powerful point about collective dogma, but also makes her a more interesting character.
Her obvious inner conflict about the outcome of the prophecy and Paul’s role makes Chani a conflicted and compelling figure. It also adds an extra layer to her romance with Paul, which in the novel (and certainly David Lynch’s Dune) feels slightly underdeveloped. It also helps better explain Paul’s attraction to her, since she is one of the few Fremen that doesn’t just accept his status. These changes, while subtle, ultimately enhance Chani’s characterization in Dune: Part Two and represent some of the movie’s best book changes.
Dune: Part Two
- Director
- Denis Villeneuve
- Release Date
- March 1, 2024
- Cast
- Timothee Chalamet , Zendaya , Florence Pugh , Austin Butler , Rebecca Ferguson
