Riding Sandworms Is Not The Strangest Thing An Atreides Does With Shai-Hulud In Dune

Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from Dune Messiah and Children of Dune.

One of the best (and most unusual) parts of the Dune franchise is when Paul Atreides (played by Timothée Chalamet in Denis Villeneuve’s movies) learns how to ride sandworms on Arrakis — but Paul’s Shai-Hulud expeditions aren’t the weirdest things that an Atreides does with sandworms. Dune and Dune: Part Two are based on Frank Herbert’s 1965 book of the same name, as Villeneuve split the story in half. Sandworms play a significant role in the narrative in all the works, even the sequel Dune Messiah, which serves as the basis for the upcoming film Dune: Part Three.

Shai-Hulud (the Fremen term for sandworms) are introduced in the first Dune movie as one of the many dangers of harvesting spice on Arrakis. However, Paul doesn’t learn to use them for his own personal gain until the second film. He fully immerses himself in the Fremen culture, including how to ride a sandworm. Stilgar (portrayed by Javier Bardem) teaches Paul, who somewhat easily learns the skill, and he and the other Fremen frequently use Shai-Hulud to travel throughout Dune: Part Two.

Paul Atreides’ Son Becomes A Sandworm In Future Dune Stories

Paul & Chani Have A Child In Dune Messiah

While Paul is riding sandworms in Dune: Part Two, his son becomes one in Frank Herbert’s 1976 novel Children of Dune, the third book in the Dune series. Twelve years separate the events of Dune and Dune Messiah, and toward the end of the second novel, Chani gives birth to twins — Leto II and Ghanima. Sadly, she dies during childbirth, but Chani and Paul’s babies survive.

Leto II and Ghanima are born with wild abilities, one of the weird moments audiences should prepare for before Dune 3 releases. As an infant, Leto II saves his father’s life when Paul is blinded and sees through his son’s eyes to fight. Paul’s children return in the next book, Children of Dune, and to make a long story short, Leto II becomes a human-sandworm hybrid after choosing to set the universe on the Golden Path (which allegedly ensures humanity’s survival). To do so, Leto II consumes a lot of spice and lets sandtrout (the larval form of sandworms) cover his body.

James McAvoy Has Already Told Leto II Atreides’ Dune Story (Sort Of)

McAvoy Starred As Paul & Chani’s Son In Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune

Almost 20 years before Denis Villeneuve’s Dune premiered, Syfy adapted Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah and Children of Dune into a miniseries called Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune, released in March 2003. James McAvoy appears as Leto II Atreides in the three-part Syfy series, which depicts Paul and Chani’s son’s transformation into a sandworm. However, Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune doesn’t show Leto II’s full transformation and ends with him running off into the desert. Perhaps Villeneuve will approach Leto II’s intriguing story differently in future Dune projects.