As of Sunday (March 17), Dune: Part Two, the sci-fi sequel to the 2021 Dune had raked in just under $500 million.
The cast is a star-studded slew headlined by Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Austin Butler, and Florence Pugh. Additionally, Anya Taylor-Joy confirmed her role in the latest installment at the film’s London premiere, deeming the opportunity “a dream come true,” per Variety.
Patrice Vermette, the film’s production designer, told Architectural Digest that Taylor-Joy’s scene was filmed in Namibia.
“Very few of us went, and we signed with our blood the fact that Anya Taylor Joy was in the plane with us,” he shared.
While the film certainly transports its viewers to the desert planet of Arrakis — which was first introduced in Frank Herbert’s 1965 science fiction novel Dune — among other locations, the cast and crew traveled far and wide to capture the proper setting. Here’s what we know about where Dune: Part Two was filmed.
Where was Dune: Part Two filmed?
According to Architectural Digest, one of the filming locations was Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, which lent the film its sandy scenery. Vermette spoke with Conde Nast Traveler, noting that “every time you see dunes, we’re in Abu Dhabi.” In a promotional video obtained by Variety, director Denis Villeneuve revealed that they “spent much more time in the desert for Part 2.”
This was echoed by producer and Villeneuve’s wife, Tanya Lapointe.
“On Part 1, we spent five days in Abu Dhabi,” she explained. “This time, we spent an entire month.”
Another location highlighted in Architectural Digest‘s round-up was Altivole, Italy, particularly at the Brion Sanctuary, to capture the planet of Kaitain. According to IndieWire, Vermette claimed filming there was “the first time that [he] started crying walking on a location,” noting that “the way the architecture blends with the surrounding nature is pure perfection.”
Vermette also discussed filming in Jordan during his interview with Conde Nast Traveler, where they “built the facade of the Makers’ Temple [where sand worms are bred] and the exterior of the low-ceilings, Bene Gesserit space where Lady Jessica drinks the Water of Life.” Jordan was also a prominent filming location of Dune: Part 1, per Time Out.
“We found a rock formation and inserted a plug, so that people could get in and out,” he added.
Another key filming location was Budapest, Hungary, which Vermette told Conde Nast Traveler that they “were based out of.” He explained that Giedi Prime, the planet of the Harkonnen people, was “all built on soundstages in Budapest.”
