According to “The Art and Soul of Dune,” Denis answered simply: “women.” Specifically, he had a lot to say about the mystical sisterhood known as the Bene Gesserit. “Most political movements in the book are driven by men, who are often reacting in the moment,” Denis explained. “The Bene Gesserit perceive time differently. They strategize for the long term, thinking in centuries, even millennia. That’s how they manipulate the course of humanity.” The filmmaker noted that women in the world of “Dune” have “the power of procreation as well as the wisdom to guide humanity to enlightenment.”
The filmmaker also contrasts the Bene Gesserit with the male leadership style on display in the “Dune” series, which fans have already seen from such menacing figures as Stellan Skarsgård’s Baron Harkonnen, and in “Dune: Part Two,” from Timothee Chalamet’s Paul Atreides himself. “[Women in ‘Dune’] think of future outcomes rather than immediate results,” Denis is quoted as saying. “They lead by influence instead of domination.” The filmmaker stands by this today: in an interview with Den of Geek in February, he confirmed that “women” was his key word for the adaptation when planning with Roth, and said that he’s interested in female-driven modes of power thanks in part to his upbringing “raised in the ’60s and ’70s in a feminist environment, which is something that I love.”
“I want the Bene Gesserit to be at the center of the epicenter of this adaptation,” Villeneuve told the outlet. “It’s one of the things I feel is the most accurate with our time.” So did Villeneuve pull off the women-centric story he’d imagined? You can decide for yourself: “Dune: Part 2” is now available to rent and purchase.