Dune director Denis Villeneuve has recently revealed that he initially wanted to shoot both films at the same time, despite the fact that the second film has not yet to be confirmed.

In a new interview with Variety, he discusses why he pitched a two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 sci-fi novel. “I wanted at the beginning to do the two parts simultaneously,“ he explained. ”For several reasons, it didn’t happen, and I agreed to the challenge of making part one and then wait to see if the movie rings enough enthusiasm. As I was doing the first part, I really put all my passion into it, in case it would be the only one. But I’m optimistic.”

“If such a thing as Dune: Part Two happens, I will say that it’s going to be an insane playground for me,” he added. “It’s going to be just like pure cinematic pleasure for the second part. I don’t want to speak for everybody on the team, but I will say that we really created on this movie a feeling of family and to re-unify everybody again together, that would be paradise.”

Dune stars Timothée Chalamet as protagonist Paul Atreides and Zendaya as Chani. Rebecca Ferguson is Paul’s mother, Lady Jessica, and Oscar Isaac os Duke Leto Atreides. The star-studded cast also includes Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, and Jason Momoa.

The film will have its worldwide premiere on September 3, at the 2021 Venice Film Festival. It’s slated to hit UK and US cinemas on October 22.

Watch the latest trailer below, and revisit some of the worst and most cursed attempts to adapt Dune here.