In the making of “Dune: Part Two,” director Denis Villeneuve embarked on an extraordinary cinematic odyssey, transporting the cast and crew deep into the heart of Abu Dhabi’s Liwa Oasis. For 27 days, they immersed themselves in the towering rolling dunes, some reaching heights of over 600 feet, on the edge of the world’s largest uninterrupted desert, Rub’ Al Khali.
Villeneuve’s vision was clear: to capture the raw, tactile essence of Arrakis, the desert planet that serves as the central setting for the epic “Dune” saga. “It was important for me to bring that nature to the screen,” the director explains in a behind-the-scenes video, “so that the audience will believe it if they feel that there is something that feels real, that feels tactile.”
To realize this vision, the production team undertook a monumental logistical feat. “We had a network of 18 miles of road leading us to different locations where we had tents, catering, construction cranes, telehandlers, and everything,” reveals executive producer Tanya Lapointe, who also served as the second unit director.
Line producer Robbie McAree, head of UAE-based Epic Films, elaborates on the challenges faced: “Denis didn’t want to shoot in the same locations that we had on ‘Dune: Part One,’ so we were going deeper into the desert, closer to the Saudi border — it’s such a big, empty border desert. We’d go finding new places because that was one of his main things: he didn’t want to use the same location.”
The vast scale of the production was further amplified by the involvement of local UAE crew and talents. According to McAree, “We used close to 300 locally-based crew and contractors on the production, which is quite high compared to roughly 250 international crew who came over. And even in terms of background extras, I think there were 500, or close to 500, local extras whom we used throughout the 27 days.”
To accommodate the star-studded cast, including Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, and Rebecca Ferguson, the production team ingeniously constructed a camp, ensuring a comfortable and immersive experience amidst the desert landscapes.
The result of this ambitious undertaking is a visually stunning cinematic experience that captures the raw, unforgiving beauty of Arrakis. As Villeneuve states, “‘Dune’ is about the relationship of humans with nature,” and by embracing the grandeur of Abu Dhabi’s Liwa Oasis, the filmmakers have crafted a truly immersive and authentic portrayal of this iconic science fiction world.
