If you are one of many film-lovers that have intentions of watching Denis Villeneuve's highly anticipated box office epic, 'Dune: Part Two' this weekend, you may require a quick recollection of the events that occurred in the first half of the Dune storyline.
'Dune: Part One' was released back in 2021, so it has been over two years since we have heard anything from the Paul Atreides and the Fremen he walks amongst. Here is everything you need to know before watching the second instalment to the franchise:
In the distant future, Duke Leto Atreides, ruler of the planet Caladan, is assigned by the Padishah Emperor, the rights to become fief-holder of Arrakis, replacing the Harkonnen family who have ruled the desert planet for centuries.
Although the Duke is initially sceptical of the Emperor's intentions as to why the house of Atreides have been gifted the rights to Arrakis, he believes that it is an amazing opportunity for himself and his people to adopt the power of the desert and form an alliance with the native citizens of the Arrakis desert, the Fremen.
Amongst the desert, lies a powerful and desired substance known as 'spice', which grants the ability of interstellar travel as well as various long-term health benefits. The Atreides family believe that they should take advantage of the gift they have been given and harvest spice from the planet of Arrakis, despite the fact they believe the Emperor may be ill-intentioned.
The Duke's wife, Lady Jessica, and Mother to Paul Atreides, is an acolyte of the Bene Gesserit, an exclusive sisterhood whose members possess advanced physical and mental abilities. As part of their centuries-long tradition, Paul Atreides is put to a test by the Reverend Mother and Imperial Truthsayer, Gauis Helen Mohaim, which will either result in him being deemed worthy or facing death.
At a secret meeting on Geidi Prime, the home of House Harkonnen, the Reverend Mother requests that Baron Harkonnen spare the lives of both Lady Jessica and Paul Atreides in their pursuit to reclaim the land of Arrakis, which will inevitably end in bloodshed.
Following this, the House Harkonnen form an alliance with the Emperor's army, the Sardaukar, in order to plot an attack on House Atreides which would allow them to reclaim Arrakis and put an end to the Atreides family.
Whilst on Arrakis, the Atreides family meet with the Judge of Change, who leads Leto and Paul around the desert world of Arrakis and teaches them the ways of the planet and how they should act when exposed to such dangers.
In an attempt to rescue a spice harvesting crew from the desert, Paul is exposed to spice for a prolonged period of time which causes him to have visions of a nearby future that results in bloodshed and many casualties - a war in his name.
The Atreides family and spice harvesting crew barely come out of their near-encounter with a sandworm alive, and are forced to quickly learn about the dangers of living amongst Arrakis, despite it's potential upsides.
Later that night, the Harkonnen's execute their attack on the House of Atreides, thanks to the help of Dr Yueh, physical aid to the Atreides family, who betrays them and let's down their shields, allowing the Harkonnen's to implement their plan of attack.
In doing so, Dr Yueh disables Leto Atreides following the request of Baron Harkonnen, in exchange for his wife who is currently serving as a prisoner on Guedi Prime. The Harkonnen army, along with the Sardaukar, attack the new-home of the Atreides family on Arrakis which ends in multiple casualties.
Back on Guedi Prime, the now captured Duke Leto is facing death at the hands of Baron Harkonnen. But in his final moments, releases a poisonous capsule within his mouth, that was posing as a tooth, placed there by Dr Yueh after he disabled the Duke.
The majority of the Harkonnen family, within the room, face death at the hands of the Duke's poisonous capsule, except the Baron himself who barely escapes.
Elsewhere on Arrakis, Paul and Lady Jessica are now held captured on a helicopter, being controlled by a few members of the Harkonnen army. Following the Baron's promise to the Reverend Mother to not physically harm neither Lady Jessica or Paul, they plan on releasing the pair to the desert and die at the hands of a sand worm.
By controlling the few members of the Harkonnen army inside the helicopter via 'the voice', Paul and Lady Jessica manage to escape, but are assumed dead by the Harkonnen family. Now exposed to the desert, the pair must travel overnight in an attempt to find the Fremen and form an alliance with them.
In doing so, Lady Jessica and Paul come across the Judge of Change who provides them with information as to how to find the Fremen and how to act when they do so. Whilst this is happening, the remainders of the Sardaukar army find them and impose an attack.
Lady Jessica and Paul escape in a helicopter but the Judge of Change is left wounded. Facing death, she summons a sand worm that swallows herself and the remainder of the Sardaukar army in the process.
Now free to the land of the desert, Paul and his Mother also come across a very close encounter to the hands of a sand worm that sees Paul almost face death. Following this, the duo continue their search for the Fremen. Eventually, they find them, including a female member of the citizens, Chani, who has been appearing in Paul's dreams for some time now.
One of the members of the Fremen who disapproves of their acceptance of Paul and Lady Jessica, challenges Paul to a fight to the death. If Paul wins, he and his Mother would be accepted by the Fremen. Inevitably Paul defeats the Fremen warrior, and despite it being against the wishes of lady Jessica, the duo form an alliance with them.
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