Dune Part 2 ending explained: Paul Atreides becomes what he feared

And now he’s tackled the second half in Dune: Part Two, which landed in cinemas over the weekend and scored the biggest opening weekend of 2024, collecting $81.5 million in its domestic debut and outgrossing several of 2023's biggest blockbusters, including Killers of the Flower Moon.

Picking up from the end of the first film, Part Two revolves around Paul Atreides's (Timothée Chalamet) journey as he gradually becomes the leader of the Fremen tribe – all while starting a love affair with Zendaya's Chani and facing a new threat in the form of Austin Butler's evil Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen.

While the film is less convoluted than the book, you might still need a little help making sense of the final scenes. So, read on to have the Dune: Part Two ending explained – but be warned: full spoilers follow.

Dune: Part Two ending explained

With Paul having learned the Fremen ways and been accepted as their new leader, things come to a head when the Emperor (Christopher Walken) arrives on Arrakis flanked by Sardaukar troops in a desperate bid to halt the planned rebellion.

The Emperor confronts Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård) in the capital city of Arrakeen for failing to control the situation on the desert planet, but this encounter is interrupted when Paul and the Fremen arrive on the scene riding sandworms, overpowering the Emperor's forces and violently breaching the city's defences.

Paul then dramatically slays the Baron and demands that the Emperor relinquish control of the Imperial throne to him, threatening to destroy Arrakis's vital spice resources if he does not comply and suggesting that he takes the hand of Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) in marriage to seal the deal.

At this point, Feyd-Rautha sniffs a shot at glory and challenges Paul to a dual in the name of the Emperor, but Paul is victorious and thus claims the throne to Arrakis, with the Emperor reluctantly yielding his power and Irulan accepting his marriage proposal.

In other words, Paul has succeeded in his aim of becoming the Emperor of the Known Universe.

Despite his fears of manipulating the Fremen into becoming a 'Messiah' as the Bene Gesserit hoped, Paul has become that person and is waging a bloody Holy War that he feared where billions die - despite knowing this is potentially the best "way through".

• Read More: 10 Dune Part Two changes from Frank Herbert's original novel

Is Paul Atreides a Harkonnen?

Yes, Paul Atreides discovered that he is the grandson of Baron Vladimir Harkonnen and that Lady Jessica is the Baron's illegitimate daughter.

Jessica was the result of a union between the Baron and a Bene Gesserit sister as part of the sisterhood's breeding programme.

This means that Paul is not only an heir of House Atreides but also their mortal enemies, House Harkonnen. Paul is therefore the cousin of his enemy in the film, Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, who he slays at the end of the film in combat after killing the Baron.

By the end of Dune: Part Two, Paul, his mother and sister are the sole surviving Harkonnens, as well as him and Alia being the sole surviving Atreides.

Another symbol of Paul's dark side and representing another coloniser of Arrakis is the revelation that he has the blood of the villainous Harkonnens too - this is not a simple tale of heroes and villains.

• Read More: Who is Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in Dune: Part Two? Austin Butler character explained

Do Paul and Chani end up together in Dune: Part Two?

Although Paul has been victorious, it very much comes at a cost. The other Great Houses refuse to accept him as their leader and so Paul instructs his Fremen troops to "lead them to paradise" – in other words starting a holy war between the Fremen and the Great Houses.

In his visions throughout the two films, Paul has seen glimpses of this holy war and the trail of devastation it will leave across the galaxy, and so his decision to order his troops regardless of the fate he knows will await them clearly emphasises his transition into a dangerous despot.

And that's not the only thing Paul has to worry about. Although he has sworn to love Chani eternally, he makes the choice to marry Princess Irulan and embark on a dangerous battle for power - much to the horror of Chani, who is shown angrily mounting a sandworm to leave Arrakeen.

This sets up a future conflict that will play a huge part in the next film... let's just hope we don't have too long to wait!

Who dies in Dune: Part Two?

Several characters die in Dune: Part Two.

• Reverend Mother Ramallo - Lady Jessica's predecessor at Sietch Tabr died after the ceremony that saw her successor drink the Water of Life.
• Lieutenant Lanville - Gurney Halleck's former second-in-mind died as a prisoner forced into a gladiatorial match with Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen.
• Shishakli - The Fedaykin warrior and Chani's closest friend was personally set ablaze by Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen.
• Baron Vladimir Harkonnen - The evil leader of House Harkonnen was stabbed in the throat by his grandson, Paul Atreides.
• Count Glossu Rabban - The bestial older nephew of the Baron was killed in hand-to-hand combat with Gurney Halleck.
• na-Baron Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen - The heir to the Baron was killed in a duel with his cousin Paul Atreides where he fought as the champion of the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV Corrino.

Is there a post-credits scene in Dune: Part Two?

No, there is no mid or post-credits scene in the film – and no hint at further instalments.

However, for fans wondering whether another film could be on the horizon, Villeneuve has previously spoken out about his intention to make a third Dune movie, which would be based on Frank Herbert’s second book in the series, Dune Messiah.

Villeneuve even said during an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com that he had deliberately sowed the seeds for the third film when penning Dune: Part Two.

"Which is very fun, by the way," he said. "To make – like Herbert did when he was writing his book – myself like the main character, Paul, to make projections in the future and try to foresee what could be done and to create the foundations of ideas that could find their full potential in the future."

*Spoiler warning for the novel Dune Messiah*

What will happen after Dune: Part Two?

A third Dune film has been heavily discussed but is yet to be confirmed. Director Denis Villeneuve hopes to adapt the second novel by Frank Herbert in the series, Dune Messiah.

While it is unknown how faithfully the film will follow the novel beyond a larger role for Florence Pugh's Princess Irulan, we do know exactly what happens in Dune Messiah the book.

Dune Messiah is set 12 years after the end of the first Dune book, where Emperor Paul-Muad'Dib Atreides is now the ruler of the Known Universe.

The Holy War waged by the Fremen and his new followers led to the deaths of billions across the universe and Paul has lost control of the strength of the religion around him and is bound into his own destiny which he can forsee due to his oracular powers.

Now based on the fast-developing Arrakis where water has now come to the planet, Paul lives in the largest and most extravagant structure in the universe.

Paul remains in a romantic relationship with Chani who acts as his chief advisor alongside his master of state, Stilgar, and his sister Alia Atreides, who is worshipped as a religious icon in her own right.

Lady Jessica now resides on the Atreides homeworld of Caladan with Gurney Halleck but does advise her children from afar.

Princess Irulan remains the consort of Paul but has never been crowned Empress nor has she ever been intimate with him and has been forbidden to bear his children.

Due to these resentments, Irulan has been spiking Chani's food with contraceptives and has joined a conspiracy against Paul.

This conspiracy comprises three powerful parties: the space transport controllers and spice-addicted Spacing Guild whose abilities can shield the plotters from Paul's prescient powers, the group of genetically altered humans who push the boundaries of lawful science known as the Bene Tleilax, and - of course - the Bene Gesserit.

Additionally, a gift from the Spacing Guild via the Bene Tleilax sees Paul face-to-face with a trap - a reanimated version of the late Duncan Idaho, played in the first film by Jason Momoa, now named Hayt.

Will Paul avoid disaster or is tragedy inevitable?

Read more:

• Dune: Part Two review – A spectacular return to Arrakis
• Who is Alia Atreides in Dune: Part Two? Anya Taylor-Joy character explained
• Who is Lady Margot Fenring in Dune: Part 2? Léa Seydoux character explained
• How is Dune: Part Two different from the book? Book changes explained
• Stellan Skarsgård says reading Dune was “useless” for his Baron Harkonnen portrayal
• Dune director on casting Austin Butler: ‘I needed a playboy – a rockstar’
• Dune: Part Two cast – Full list of actors and characters in sequel
• What is the age rating for Dune: Part Two? Age suitability explained
• How to watch Dune: Part One on DVD, Blu-ray and streaming
• How to read all the Dune books in order

Dune: Part Two is now showing in UK cinemas. Check out more of our Sci-Fi or Film coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight.

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