The second instalment of Denis Villeneuve’s staggering and spectacular adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 epic sci-fi novel picks up right where the first film left off. The planet Arrakis, with its highly valuable mineral Spice, is under the corrupt rule of Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård), who organised a coup against the Atreides family. Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) has joined the Fremen, the indigenous people of Arrakis, including his lover Chani (Zendaya) to fight the Harkonnens and gain revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. But Paul is plagued by visions of a terrible future that only he can foresee.

This is the epic sci-fi cinema experience of our time. The first film took home six Academy Awards for score, sound, cinematography, production design, editing and visual effects. Villeneuve has gathered the same talented crew for this film, including Hans Zimmer providing the grandiose score, and Melbournian Greig Fraser capturing this distinct world with his triumphant cinematography. Many of the remarkable cast from the first film are back – Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Charlotte Rampling – but this time, we’re also introduced to characters played by Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Anya Taylor-Joy, Léa Seydoux and Christopher Walken.