EntertainmentMoviesSci-Fi MoviesDune 2Dune 2 star Zendaya talks Chani’s battle in the sci-fi sequel and why it makes that conclusion even more “heartbreaking"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
EntertainmentMoviesSci-Fi MoviesDune 2Dune 2 star Zendaya talks Chani’s battle in the sci-fi sequel and why it makes that conclusion even more “heartbreaking"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Warner Bros.)
Although both 2021’sDuneand this year’sDune: Part Twoultimately focus on the story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), Zendaya’s character Chani plays a critical role too. In the sci-fi sequel, she is also placed at the forefront of the story, with director Denis Villeneuve describing her as his"secret weapon"to telling this chapter of the tale.
We won’t go into spoilers here, Chani goes on a significant personal journey in Dune: Part Two, reexamining her relationship with the Fremen community, her faith, and even Paul.
Arguably the purest character in Dune, Chani isn’t interested in pursuing power or a prophecy that could lead to the deaths of millions. Speaking to GamesRadar+, Zendaya revealed that she thinks Chani is the “most human” of all the Dune characters, meaning she hopes that audiences will feel connected to the young fighter.
The actor explains: “I think she’s one of the few people that is just human - she’s not a Bene Gesserit, she doesn’t have access to every resource in the world, she’s really in a defensive position and all she has is herself, and her love for the people around her, and her fierce protection of them.
As we follow Chani, Paul, and co. on this adventure, everything builds to an emotional finale - if you have read author Frank Herbert’s beloved novel, you will already be aware of how jaw-dropping it is. According to Zendaya, the personal battles Chani faces throughout the film only make this conclusion more “heartbreaking”.
She continues: “Ultimately, trying to find love in that I think was interesting because of what Paul represents to her. I think the fear and the pain that he represents, or what the figure of him represents, and trying to reconcile with that inside of herself, when she ultimately just wants to do the right thing, I think is very difficult. I think it’s a battle that she’s constantly having inside of her, on top of the one she’s literally being faced with. So yeah, I think it just makes for an even more heartbreaking conclusion.”
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Dune: Part Two is in theaters worldwide now. For more, check out the rest of our coverage on the movie:
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
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Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
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2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
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1
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3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
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4
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5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”