Dune: Part Two Script Worked On By The Last Of Us Showrunner
Filmmaker Denis Villeneuve recruited The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin to work on the script for Dune: Part Two.
When filmmakers are working on a larger-than-life project like Dune 2, it’s not uncommon for additional outside writers to be recruited to help elevate the script. Empire reports that The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin received such a call to action from Denis Villeneuve to help write additional literary material for the upcoming Dune sequel, and will be credited for his contribution.
Back in the day, such contributions would go uncredited, but thanks to a policy change made by the WGA in January 2022, writers’ names are now shown during a film’s end credits, as well as on industry databases as an “Additional Literary Material” credit.
In a conversation that could be heard on the Happy Sad Confused podcast hosted by Josh Horowitz, Mazin stated that he doesn’t typically work in the movie business anymore these days, but if he gets a call from a director who he loves and respects, then he’d be more than willing to offer a helping hand.
So when Mazin was personally asked by Dune 2 writer and director Denis Villeneuve to spend a few weeks working on the script that was written by himself and Jon Spaihts, it was an offer that he couldn’t refuse. Speaking from past experience, Mazin said that before the WGA’s change in policy, you would “come in, you do a little work, and then you leave.”
Elaborating on this industry change, Mazin went on to say that it used to be the case that writers couldn’t even mention that they worked on a project, but thankfully he’s getting credit where it’s due for the three-four weeks he spent working on Dune 2. Though Craig Mazin is a legend in his own right for his most recent work as the creator, writer, director, and executive producer of HBO’s The Last of Us, it’s certainly nice to know that he now has bragging rights for lending his talents to Dune 2’s development.
And given how compelling the storytelling is in The Last of Us, it’s safe to say that a Craig Mazin contribution, though limited in scope compared to Villeneuve and Spaiht’s efforts, will be exactly what they needed to make ensure Dune 2 is as enthralling (if not, more) as its predecessor.
Dune 2 will continue to center around the ongoing journey of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and his quest for revenge against the conspirators who tore his family apart. In addition to Chalamet, Florence Pugh (Midsommar) will take on the role of Princess Irulan, and Austin Butler (Elvis) will be portraying Harkonnen heir Feyd-Rautha.
Filming for Dune 2 wrapped on December 12, 2022, and is slated for a November 3, 2023 release. The upcoming film will be a direct sequel to 2021’s Dune, and will feature more action sequences than its predecessor.
Villeneuve has stated in the past that Dune was more of a contemplative movie, but the events from the first film have primed Dune 2 to be more of an “epic war movie.” In other words, the foundation has been laid out, and now its’ time to continue building the vast world that was first brought to us with Frank Herbert‘s 1965 novel of the same name.
