How incredible does this look? I watched this trailer twice… well, I got near to the end, rewound a bit to catch something, and then watched it through again—because I said to myself, “Why does that face look familiar? Who is that? Wait a minute… isn’t that Robert? Wait, that is Robert Pattinson! I didn’t know (or likely forgot) he was in this!” Although this franchise has already delivered two great films (and a TV show I haven’t watched), and I’m aware there’s much more to the story, the storytelling and directing from Denis Villeneuve is doing its best to carry the weight of everything that comes after to "conclude" the story. That’s based on what I’ve learned—not read—but even so, while I was intrigued by the trailer and excited by that reveal, it didn’t quite land for me. The franchise is starting to feel a little long in the tooth. It’s like I already know what to expect at this point: great music and score, great acting, great storytelling, and bold, immersive cinematography and visuals that feel completely real. But aside from introducing new characters, what is this trailer really giving us beyond being a teaser? Maybe I just want more than a teaser trailer—which is probably a testament to how excited I am for the franchise.
The trailer opens with Chani in the arms of Paul as they discuss their pregnancy and potential names for the baby—Leto, if it’s a boy, is a nice tribute to Paul’s father. There’s some imagery that might suggest Leto’s ring in a scene, followed shortly by a group being led by Paul as he says, “War feeds on itself.” We then see images of battle: a tower firing on attackers, preceded by shots of bodies on the ground—charred, or perhaps frozen and stiffened in some kind of solidified liquid. The next shot shows a long, diamond-shaped ship flying into space toward a massive structure, giving a real sense of scale. Over this, Paul speaks to his mother, asking for advice—a moment that’s echoed later when he wonders what his father would have done, admitting that the more he fights, the more his enemies rise against him. We get a glimpse of Robert Patinson as Feyd-Rau followed by two groups of men facing off—one possibly led by Stilgar. Then comes the line from his mother: “Your father never started a war.” More stunning shots of large-scale battles follow, along with a brief look at Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia and the unexpected return of Duncan Idaho, training or fighting with Paul. Princess Irulan appears, walking with clear determination—likely driven by vengeance. Feyd-Rautha is seen again among what looks like the Fremen, and there’s a brilliant shot of Chani, ready for battle with a fierce, warrior-like expression. But the standout moment is Paul ascending the steps before addressing thousands upon thousands of followers. The scale is immense, and as he declares, “I am not afraid to die, but I must not die… yet,” it just feels epic—simply epic. I think I’m most excited to return to this world and be immersed in its lore again. While this is only a teaser trailer, I need a bit more substance to fully enjoy it. Maybe I’m asking for too much—I just need to be patient and wait. The music is already playing in my head.
