Where Was Dune 2 Filmed: Every Shooting Location

Summary

Dune: Part Two dazzles with visually stunning locations like Wadi Rum, Jordan, and Budapest, Hungary, adding depth to the fictional world.
The sequel creatively expands the setting and worldbuilding, setting the stage for Dune 3 with new locations like Altivole, Treviso, Italy.
Abu Dhabi plays a crucial role in shaping Arrakis with scenes filmed in picturesque landscapes, enhancing the overall cinematic experience.

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This article contains spoilers for Dune: Part Two

The incredible sci-fi sequel Dune: Part Two includes multiple visually stunning filming locations that help ground the film in the fictional world. After a three-year wait, Dune: Part Two was finally released in theaters to immense critical acclaim. The movie follows Paul Atreides as he works with Chani and the Fremens on Arrakis to reclaim their planet from the House Harkonnen. The film was originally expected to be released in November 2023 but got pushed multiple times. Luckily, the passage of time didn’t negatively impact the film. Dune: Part Two’s Rotten Tomatoes score is higher than the first movie.

One of the reasons the movie is so successful is because of its impressive world-building. The fictional setting in Dune: Part Two incorporates many of the filming locations for Dune, recreating locations on Arrakis. However, the movie also expands the setting, creating a path expanding the worldbuilding for Dune 3.

Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides and Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen holding up a bowl of popcorn

Where To Watch Dune 2: Showtimes & Streaming Status

The wait for Denis Villeneuve’s Dune sequel is now over, and there are options for where to watch Dune 2 with theater showtimes or on streaming.

Budapest, Hungary

Paul Atreides talking to the Fremen Army in Dune 2.

Like the filming location in Dune, the battles in Dune: Part Two were filmed in Budapest, Hungary, according to Collider. While it’s not specified exactly where, it seems highly likely that the movie filmed on the Origo Film Studios’ backlot, like the last time they were in Budapest. By filming on a lot instead of doubling a real, onsite location for a fictional one, there’s more flexibility to incorporate explosions and action for giant battles. Other films that used Budapest as a backdrop include Poor Things, Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire, and the upcoming Borderlands movie.

The gap between
Dune: Part Two
and
Dune 3
will be larger due to the time jump in the story.

Wadi Rum, Jordan

A sandworm emerges from a billowing dust cloud while tiny human figures flee in a dramatic scene from Dune: Part Two

The production team for Dune: Part Two spent time in the Wadi Rum desert in the southern area of Jordan, a filming location for the first film as well. Wai Rum doubles as the fictional desert planet Arrakis in Dune and Dune: Part Two. Its gorgeous red sand and eye-catching landscapes perfectly encapsulate the sparse planet. According to IMDb, other movies that filmed in Wadi Rum include Prometheus, The Martian, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The elements that make this environment feel like outer space also explain why it’s the perfect choice for Arrakis. The visuals look otherworldly.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

paul and chani kiss on top of a sand dune in dune 2

According to Collider, Dune: Part Two uses the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi, to create the planet Arrakis in both films. In the first movie, the United Arab Emirates doubled as the rock shelters used by the Fremens. Considering the Fremens will definitely appear again in Dune: Part Two, the film will use the location for the same purpose. The UAE location will help shape the Fremen people as they fight to regain their home planet.

Additionally, because the landscape looks extremely similar between the Wadi rum and Abu Dhabi, scenes filmed at these two locations could be mashed together to create most of the exteriors of Arrakis. On top of this, the first movie shot the ornithopters flying with a helicopter over top of Abu Dhabi. The production team could use this idea again to create a realistic depiction of the various aircrafts in Dune: Part Two.

Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides in Dune.

How To Read The Dune Books In Order

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune film series is based on Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel of the same name, but plenty of other books followed the first Dune.

Other popular movies filmed in Abu Dhabi include Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Furious 7, and Deliver Us From Evil. All of these movies have different perspectives and genres, but they share beautiful Emirati landscapes.

Altivole, Treviso, Italy

Dune: Part Two used the city Altivole in the providence of Treviso, located in Italy as a filming location. This is one of the new filming locations that didn’t appear in the first Dune movie. According to IMDb, the interiors of the Corrino household, one of the six houses and factions in Dune: Part Two. The Italian architecture will undoubtedly set this environment apart from the rest of Arrakis. After all, there’s a stark contrast between the Corrinos and the Fremens. The only other movie that’s listed as filming in Altivole is the documentary Memoriae Causa.

Memoriale Brion, Altivole, Treviso, Veneto, Italy

Chani confronts Jessica with writing on her face in Dune 2

The second, more specific new filming location for Dune: Part Two is Memoriale Brione, a tomb in Altivole. IMDb describes this location as being the exteriors of the film. While it doesn’t specify the exact scene, it seems probable that the exteriors will be of the Corrino household in Dune: Part Two. The building includes modernist architecture that will look distinguished in the film. It’s also noteworthy that most of the movie takes place in the dunes, making the buildings more memorable. As such, they made the right decision by picking a location with such a stunning exterior.

Sources: Collider and IMDb