Dune: Part Two delves even deeper into the prophecy of the Lisan al Gaib, a messianic figure that proves to be integral to the story of Paul Atreides. While Dune: Part One laid the groundwork for the Lisan al Gaib prophecy, it remained focused on the political infighting between House Atreides, House Harkonnen, and the Imperium led by House Corrino. By the time of Dune: Part Two‘s climactic ending, however, the franchise leans ever deeper into the prophecy of the Lisan al Gaib.

The prophecy of the Lisan al Gaib creates a big source of debate for the film, primarily whether Paul Atreides is the hero or villain of Dune 2. Before this, the film focuses on Paul becoming one of the Fremen, the people of the desert on the planet of Arrakis. Despite some Dune 2 book changes, the narrative switches between Paul’s Fremen integration and his uncovering of the Lisan al Gaib prophecy. With Dune: Part Two’s Holy War looming on the horizon, it is worth exploring what the Lisan al Gaib prophecy is, and what it means for Paul’s future.

Lisan Al Gaib Is The Name Of The Fremen’s Prophesied Messiah

The Fabled Being Who Will Save The people Of Arrakis Is Known As The Lisan Al Gaib

In Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two, the Lisan al Gaib refers to the prophesied messiah in Fremen culture. Translated to “The Voice from the Outer World,” the Lisan al Gaib is supposedly an outsider of the Fremen who is slated to become a savior to the denizens of Arrakis. To the Fremen, the Lisan al Gaib is also known as Mahdi, translated as “The One Who Will Lead Us To Paradise.” As is the case with several sci-fi franchises, the Lisan al Gaib is simply Dune‘s version of a Chosen One prophecy, though with some notable differences.

The Bene Gesserit’s Role The Lisan Al Gaib Prophecy Explained

Dune: Part One And Dune: Part Two Explore Many Intriguing Aspects Of The Chosen One Tale

The Chosen One of Dune: Part Two‘s world is primarily different due to the interference of the Bene Gesserit. The Bene Gesserit are a sisterhood of powerful witch-like beings who aid the noble houses of Dune‘s universe. The Bene Gesserit believe in the coming of a being named Kwisatz Haderach, someone who can possess immeasurable power. Due to this belief, the Bene Gesserit have long interfered with the bloodlines of the royal houses in Dune‘s universe, leading to Paul Atreides’ ascension.

The Bene Gesserit has long prepared for the coming of Kwisatz Haderach and groomed the people of Arrakis for his arrival. For decades, the Bene Gesserit have artificially built the prophecy of the Lisan al Gaib on Arrakis so that, when the time comes for Kwisatz Haderach to emerge, the Fremen can aid his ascension. In Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two, this being is Paul Atreides, with the ending of the latter film seeing the young prince become the fabled figure to the Fremen.

According to the Lisan al Gaib prophecy from the Fremen’s perspective, this messianic figure will have several signs that prove he is the One. For one, the Lisan al Gaib is said to be an outsider with the power of the Voice, with Paul applying to both. Secondly, the Lisan al Gaib is prophesied to learn the ways of the Fremen with ease, harnessing the power of the deserts of Arrakis. Dune: Part Two explores these elements through Paul’s integration into the Fremen Sietch, chronicling his ascension through visions and dreams to become the Lisan al Gaib.

How Dune 2 Changes The Lisan Al Gaib Prophecy

Some Alterations To The Prophecy From Frank Herbert’s Novel Are Made In Denis Villeneuve’s Adaptation

Despite most of the overall plot points of Dune: Part Two‘s Lisan al Gaib prophecy aligning with Frank Herbert’s novel, the former makes some slight changes to the latter. The primary way Dune: Part Two changes the prophecy from the book is through Chani’s connection. Chani, played by Zendaya in Dune: Part Two‘s ensemble cast, reveals her Fremen name as Sihaya midway through Dune: Part Two‘s story. Chani tells Paul that this name means desert spring and that it ties to some kind of prophecy she does not put much faith in.

However, Dune: Part Two reveals that the prophecy Siyaha applies to is none other than that of the Lisan al Gaib. As part of Paul’s final ascension to become the messianic figure, he drinks a poison called the Water of Life, obtained from the Dune movies’ giant sandworms. After falling into a coma upon drinking the poison, it is revealed that Chani’s tears – the tears of the desert spring – can be mixed with the Water of Life to revive Paul. Therefore, Chani is vital in finalizing Paul’s transformation into the Lisan al Gaib, a plot point not found in the Dune novel.

One other, smaller change to the Lisan al Gaib prophecy involves members of Paul’s Fremen Sietch. In Dune: Part Two, a subplot of the film is that several Fremen from the north of Arrakis do not believe in the Lisan al Gaib. The film portrays these people as the younger members of the Sietch, while the older members like Stilgar believe in the coming of the messianic being. The film also notes that those from the south of Arrakis are true believers, not split between ideals like the Fremen of the north, with these nonbelievers not found in the book.

Why Stilgar Heavily Believed Paul Atreides Was Lisan Al Gaib

One Of The Biggest Believers In Paul’s Ascension Was Stilgar

As alluded to, the biggest believer in Paul’s destiny is Stilgar, played by Javier Bardem in Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two. Stilgar belongs to the northern Fremen and is one of the older people in the tribe, separating him from the younger members like Chani who do not believe in a mysterious outsider coming to save them. Where Stilgar is concerned, several factors contribute to his overwhelming belief in Paul as the Lisan al Gaib, with much of Dune 2 showing Stilgar observing the signs that Paul is such a figure.

The first sign that caused Stilgar to believe in Paul was simply that he is an outsider who possesses the Voice and is the son of a Bene Gesserit. After Jessica drinks the Water of Life and survives – as the prophecy states will occur to the mother of the Lisan al Gaib – Stilgar begins to believe fully in Paul. When Paul is later resuscitated after drinking the Water of Life himself, Stilgar’s belief is all but cemented. When combined with Paul’s humility, a trait Stilgar ᴀssociates with the Mahdi, this belief begins to turn to fanaticism.

The final elements of Paul’s journey that allowed Stilgar’s belief to endure involved the sandworms of Arrakis and Paul’s prescient powers. After Paul rides a sandworm and proves he knows the ways of the desert, Stilgar recalls that the prophecy states the Lisan al Gaib will know Fremen culture as if he was born to it. After drinking the Water of Life, Paul’s precognitive abilities enhance and lead to Dune: Part Two‘s now-iconic cave scene in which Paul stamps his authority on the Fremen, converting not only Stilgar but the entire planet of Arrakis to his cause as the Lisan al Gaib.

Was Paul Atreides Destined To Be The Lisan Al Gaib In Dune?

The Kwisatz Haderach Could Have Been Anyone, Though Paul Was Placed On The Path Regardless

Paul’s ascension into the Lisan al Gaib as shown in Dune: Part Two raises the question of whether he specifically was destined to do so. While Paul’s journey across both films seems to imply that this is the case, it is technically untrue. Any person could have become the Lisan al Gaib, as hinted at in Dune: Part One. It is mentioned that the generation after Paul was supposed to house the Kwisatz Haderach according to the Bene Gesserit, were it not for Jessica’s interference involving Paul.

This proves that Paul was not destined to become the Lisan al Gaib, but was placed on the path to become so nonetheless. Paul could have chosen not to walk this road, something that Dune: Part Two explores through his hesitance to start a Holy War using the Lisan al Gaib prophecy. However, Paul eventually embarks on the journey to become the Kwisatz Haderach by the end of Dune: Part Two, fulfilling a prophecy that could have applied to anyone had the now-Duke of House Atreides chosen not to.

Dune’s Kwisatz Haderach Prophecy Explained

The Bene Gesserit Have A Bigger Role In Dune’s Political Landscape Thanks To The Kwisatz Haderach.

In the world of the Dune franchise, the Lisan al Gaib has another name, the Kwisatz Haderach. While the Fremen know the fabled being as the former, the latter name is what the Bene Gesserit have been striving to create for generations. The arrival of the Kwisatz Haderach has long been orchestrated by the order of witch-like beings, with the manipulation of bloodlines that has lasted centuries leading to the creation of a super-being. This super-being would possess the abilities of the Bene Gesserit only as a male, being inherently more powerful and leading the Bene Gesserit to ultimate power.

In Dune: Part One, it is established that Lady Jessica was supposed to bear Duke Leto Atreides a daughter. This daughter would then marry Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen and bear a son, who would become the Kwisatz Haderach. Due to her love for Leto, Jessica gave him the son he desired, bringing the Kwisatz Haderach about a generation earlier through Paul. Jessica then pushed Paul onto the path of the Kwisatz Haderach by making him convince the Fremen he was the Lisan al Gaib, with both names simply pointing to Dune: Part Two‘s messianic figure.

What Paul Being The Lisan Al Gaib Means For Dune’s Future

It Will Be Difficult For Paul To Remain A Hero

With Dune: Part Three confirmed and in development, there’s great speculation on what Paul Atreides being the Lisan al Gaib will mean for the rest of the franchise, especially among fans unfamiliar with Frank Herbert’s novels. However, even those who are well versed in the source material can’t predict exactly how Paul being the Fremen’s messiah will impact the narrative, since there are several ways Denis Villeneuve’s film series seems to be deviating from the source material.

Still, even though there are alterations, there are still several predictions that can be made about Paul’s future in the Dune movies. While Villeneuve’s story may be altering the narrative slightly, there are certain aspects of Paul being the Lisan al Gaib that can’t be ignored without changing the story completely. So, for example, there’s no realistic way that the Fremen Jihad carried out in Paul’s name can be avoided. This Holy War leads to the deaths of 61 billion people across the universe, according to 1969’s Dune Messiah, which takes place 12 years into Paul’s time as the Emperor.

Ultimately, the key impact of Paul being the Lisan al Gaib is this – Paul Atredies will be an antagonist by the time the Dune movies conclude. While he may not become an out-and-out villain like Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars or Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter, his time as the hero of the story is all but confirmed to have come to a close. This is further supported by Dune: Part Two setting up Zendaya’s Chani as a skeptic of Paul’s, with her decision not to join the Fremen exodus a clear sign she’ll be repositioned as the new central hero.

In the second Dune novel, Dune Messiah, there are several attempts by Fremen rebels to ᴀssᴀssinate Paul too. These give a great narrative opportunity for the movies to shift the position of the character to being a villainous presence rather than a hero. While this does seem to be the most likely course that Denis Villeneuve’s movies will take, however, it’s always worth remembering that it’s still speculation, since little of the story of Dune: Part Three has been confirmed yet (and there are 12 years of story that could be explored between the start of the next Dune novel and the events of Dune: Part Two).