Paul Atreides is one of the most compelling characters in fiction, and the setup for the Denis Villeneuve sequel plans to pull from Dune Messiah, a novel written largely as a coda to the first book. To drive home Frank Herbert's dark themes about the corruption of power, Messiah features many complex story elements that will be difficult to adapt.

Fortunately, Villeneuve has thought about this project comprehensively. From the beginning, the filmmaker revealed that he wished to make three movies, telling the full story of Paul through Dune Messiah. While the book series continues beyond that, it genuinely begins to transform into something different after those events, focusing on other characters including Leto Atreides II, and bringing in all kinds of strange concepts that include cloning and the transformation into a human-sandworm hybrid. Still, Messiah's story is important, and it's exciting to see how some of that story has already been seeded.

Paul Trying To Prevent Chani's Death Is A Major Storyline In Dune Messiah

Paul's Prescience Allows Him To See Chani's Possible Death During Childbirth

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Paul's love for Chani is one of the most important components of his character in the novels and helps to humanize him. Seen as a religious leader known as Lisan al Gaib, Paul's story in Dune Messiah sees him trying to undo some of the destruction that he has wrought in his conquering of much of the universe. His humanity is best expressed throughout this by his relationship with Chani, whom he does everything that he can to keep alive. This becomes difficult when, through his prescience, he sees that she will likely die during childbirth.

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Following difficulties in impregnation, largely due to the efforts of Princess Irulan, who had been secretly drugging Chani with contraceptives, Paul's concern for his lover grows throughout the story. He expresses concern over her childbirth, fearing that it could kill her. While siring children is an important part of his legacy, the necessity of keeping Chani safe becomes arguably even more important. As his greatest tether to humanity, Chani's life must be preserved, and Paul would do anything to make that happen.

Dune 2 Already Showed Paul A Vision Of Chani Dying, But In A Different Way

The Last Film Seeded Paul's Fear Of His Lover In An Important Vision

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Dune: Part Two changed some details about Chani, making her a more interesting and dynamic force in the story, although her connection to Paul is still deep, intimate, and important. In the film, he even sees a vision of Chani dying from a nuclear blast, and the fear that this instills in him is clearly communicated. His desire to keep Chani safe is quickly highlighted in a way that could be set up for how the character contends with her mortality in the next film.

. Paul's inability to control something so small as the life of his concubine amidst his terrifying grip on the universe is an important contrast in the story that will surely play into the next film's events.

While the Part Two emphasized the connection between Paul and Chani, it also served as a precursor to his worries concerning her death in childbirth. While Dune: Part Three is almost certain to make major deviations from the plot of the novel, it seems likely that this element will still be present in the film. Paul's inability to control something so small as the life of his concubine amidst his terrifying grip on the universe is an important contrast in the story that will surely play into the next film's events.

Paul's Vision Of Chani's Death In Dune 2 Shows How Villeneuve Has Been Subtly Setting Up Dune 3

Villeneuve Has Hoped To Tell Paul's Story Through Dune Messiah Since The Beginning

From the beginning, Villeneuve has wished to make Dune: Part Three, then end his helming of the franchise. This makes sense, as Frank Herbert originally wrote Dune Messiah as a coda to the original novel, rather than a direct sequel. Paul's story is essentially told throughout the two works and Messiah goes a long way in tying up the important themes that Herbert wished to address concerning the dangers of charismatic leadership. With the story being considered as one, it makes sense that Herbert wishes to end his adaptation here.

There are four additional Dune novels written by Frank Herbert that could be adapted after Dune Messiah, as well as a wealth of additional connected novels by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.

With that in mind, it also makes sense that details of Messiah's story and themes have already been planted in the preceding films. Villeneuve is a strong and thoughtful filmmaker, and while the first Dune was made without a guarantee that the sequels would get made, it successfully set up a larger world and story from the very beginning. Seeing how the filmmaker pulls at these unique and compelling threads to finally weave a comprehensive narrative that is faithful to Herbert's work is an exciting prospect.

If Dune: Part Three matches the success of the first two films, the franchise will almost certainly continue. There are additional books and stories to adapt that expand the size of the world in shocking ways that would translate well to the big screen. However, Paul's main story, including the importance of his relationship with Chani, will be brought to a satisfying close by the end of Dune Messiah. Seeing how these three films work in concert to tell that story comprehensively is such great promise for this latest science fiction saga.