Dune Part 2 Is Not Getting Released On Time

By Jessica Goudreault | Updated

Timothee Chalamat in Dune Part 2

If you were looking forward to seeing Dune Part 2 in theaters on November 3, then we’ve got some bad news for you. As the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes continue, the highly anticipated sequel has been pushed back to March 15, 2024, according to Variety. This is not the only movie that has been affected by the ongoing strikes, but it’s still upsetting for the fans who have been waiting nearly two years for the sequel.

Dune Part 2 is the latest film to be delayed due to strikes, from November 3, 2023, to March 15, 2024.

In the 2021 film Dune, the gifted young man Paul Atreides (played by Timothée Chalamet) and his family get into a brutal war over the galaxy’s most valuable asset, “spice.” As war wages on, Paul discovers that he has incredible witchy powers that allow him to see into the future and throughout the universe. He also shares his love with Chani (played by Zendaya), a member of the Fremen.

In Dune Part 2, Paul will be reunited with Chani and the Fremen as he plans to seek revenge against those who killed his family. He will also have to use his powers to try and save the entire universe, but it may mean losing the love of his life.

Covering the second half of Frank Herbert’s Dune, Dune Part 2 brings open warfare to the desert of Arakkis.

Both Dune and Dune Part 2 are based on the science fiction book series of the same name. The original series began in 1965 by author Frank Herbert, but after his death in 1986, his son Brian Herbert, author Kevin J. Anderson, and several other authors have carried on the legacy with additional books, novels, and comics. The series has been adapted into movies, a TV miniseries, and video games.

Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya in Dune

Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya will both reprise their roles in Dune Part 2, and they will be joined by a star-studded cast that includes Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Lea Seydoux, and more.

Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment came together to agree on a new release date for Dune Part 2. The reason for the delay is because of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which comes as no surprise. With such an impressive cast, they want the actors to be able to attend press circuits and promote the upcoming film.

Dune Part 2 joins the ranks of other significantly delayed films, including Kraven the Hunter, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, and Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

The production companies don’t seem too worried that they are delaying their new film by several months. In fact, by releasing it during the spring, they expect even more people to attend the release since students will be on spring break, and families may head to the movie theaters during the Easter holiday weekend.

In addition to Dune Part 2, there are several other upcoming films that are being delayed by the Hollywood strikes. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire was originally supposed to be released on March 14 but has been pushed back to  April 12. Kraven the Hunter, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and the Zendaya-led drama Challengers have also been pushed back to release in 2024.

The WGA strike started on May 2, with SAG-AFTRA joining in on July 14. There have been ongoing talks between the writers/actors and the studios, so hopefully, it will be resolved soon.