Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three is set to adapt Frank Herbert’s most interesting and controversial novel, “Dune Messiah”. The story follows Emperor Paul Atreides several years after winning the throne on Arrakis and launching a “holy war” on the other Great Houses at the end of Dune: Part Two. The book was met with mixed reviews because of how different it is from the original, but that’s also why it’s such an exciting project to adapt.
One of the major plot points in “Dune Messiah” is a complex relationship between Paul, Chani, and Irulan. While Paul is married to Irulan for stature, Chani is his true love. That complicates matters when it comes to securing an heir to his empire, especially as Paul has visions of Chani’s demise and while Irulan works in secret to bring him down. It’s a fascinating storyline, and it ultimately results in the birth of one of the Dune franchise’s biggest characters: Leto Atreides II.
Dune 3 Should Introduce Paul & Chani’s Son, Leto Atreides II, Based On The Books
Their Son Is Born At The End Of “Dune Messiah”
If Denis Villeneuve plans to stay book-accurate for his adaptation of “Dune Messiah”, he needs to introduce Leto Atreides II before the film is over. This character, who ultimately succeeds Paul’s role as Emperor in the later sequels, is a key figure in the Dune franchise thanks to his unique abilities and imperial lineage. Although it’s been confirmed that Villeneuve will leave the Dune franchise after his third movie, there’s every possibility that another director will take over and adapt works such as “Children of Dune”, so it’s crucial that Leto II makes an appearance soon.
Additionally, much of “Dune Messiah”’s narrative centers around Paul’s attempts to father an heir, and the fractures this causes in his relationships with Chani and Irulan. It ties into the book’s rich themes of honor conflicting with love, as Paul loves Chani but knows that he must have children with Irulan in order to secure the imperial line. It’s a fascinating subplot that’s sure to be explored in Dune: Part 3, and none of it is possible without Leto II and Ghanima’s births at the end of the book.
Dune 2 Cut The Death Of Paul & Chani’s First Child
Leto The Elder’s Character Was Cut Entirely
Interestingly, there have already been some major changes between Villeneuve’s Dune movies and Frank Herbert’s books. One of the most obvious omissions was the birth (and death) of Paul’s first child in the first book. During his time with the Fremen, Paul fathered a son with Chani, whom they named Leto, after Paul’s late father. However, this child was murdered by the Harkonnens during his infancy – a tragedy that Paul seemingly foresaw in his visions.
However, in Villeneuve’s adaptation, it’s likely that Paul and Chani’s first son was ignored because the director wanted to take a slightly different route with their relationship.
Dune: Part 2’s decision to cut Paul and Chani’s first kid is an unfortunate but understandable one. In the book, it serves the clear purpose of strengthening Paul and Chani’s relationship while giving readers another reason to root against the Harkonnens, if they even needed one. However, in Villeneuve’s adaptation, writer Jon Spaihts explained that Leto’s birth and death were removed because it “would’ve been a peculiar distraction in the film.”
Removing Leto’s death allowed the film to take a slightly different route with their relationship. Chani leaves Paul in Dune: Part 2’s ending, and this may have seemed less plausible if they had created a child together. Of course, Dune 2 still references this storyline, thanks to Chani’s blue scarf, which is a sign of being pregnant in the book. Considering that the movie shows how Chani and Paul’s romance develops physically, that subtle detail could be an Easter egg for readers.
How Leto Atreides II’s Introduction In Dune 3 Will Be Different Now
Paul Won’t Carry The Baggage Of His First Son’s Death
The omission of Paul and Chani’s first kid is a very minor detail on the surface, but it fundamentally changes Paul’s view of fatherhood. In the books, Emperor Paul carries a certain baggage over his first son’s death that manifests in his relationship with Chani; he understands just how much of a burden parenthood can be, and doesn’t want to rush Chani into going through childbirth again, especially with what his visions have shown him. While they ultimately do have two more children, this drama propels the narrative of “Dune Messiah” forward.
Villeneuve’s decision to ignore Paul and Chani’s first child could be an indicator that he’s also going to change something about their relationship in Dune: Part 3. Without this baggage, Paul may be more eager to father children with Chani – despite external pressures to conceive with Irulan to secure his children’s imperial rule. Whatever Villeneuve decides, there’s plenty of room for changes thanks to the slight alterations he’s already made to Paul and Chani’s story.
