For “Dune: Part Two,” director Denis Villeneuve ventured deep into the heart of the Arabian desert, spending nearly a month filming in Abu Dhabi’s Liwa Oasis. This vast landscape served as a key location for the film’s portrayal of the desert planet Arrakis, home to the fearsome sandworms.
In a behind-the-scenes video exclusively obtained by Variety, Villeneuve expresses his appreciation for the support provided by the Abu Dhabi Film Commission and UAE-based production services company Epic Films.
“‘Dune’ is about the relationship between humans and nature,” Villeneuve says in the promo, which also features commentary from Zendaya, Javier Bardem, Rebecca Ferguson, and cinematographer Greig Fraser, among others.
“It was crucial for me to bring that nature to life on screen,” the director adds, emphasizing the importance of creating a believable and tangible experience for the audience.
Following five days of filming in the Abu Dhabi desert for the first “Dune” installment, Villeneuve and the entire production team returned for “Part Two,” spending 27 days amidst Liwa’s towering sand dunes, some reaching over 600 feet in height and bordering the Rub’ Al Khali, the world’s largest uninterrupted desert.
“An extensive network of roads spanning 18 miles was built to connect us to various filming locations, complete with tents, catering, construction cranes, telehandlers, and all the necessary equipment,” explains executive producer Tanya Lapointe.
“It was a massive undertaking, but the results were truly spectacular,” adds Lapointe, who also served as the second unit director on “Dune: Part Two.”
Legendary Pictures further benefitted from the Abu Dhabi Film Commission’s (ADFC) generous 30% cashback rebate on production expenses incurred within the Emirate.
In an interview with Variety, Robbie McAree, line producer and head of UAE-based Epic Films who worked on both “Dune” films, discussed the production’s challenges from the perspective of on-site production professionals.
Variety: How challenging was the “Dune: Part Two” shoot from your perspective?
McAree: The primary challenge this time around involved logistics. Denis expressed a desire to avoid using the same locations as “Dune: Part One,” prompting us to venture deeper into the desert, closer to the Saudi Arabian border—a vast and empty landscape. We were constantly searching for new filming locations, as that was a key priority for the director.
Variety: How extensively did you utilize local UAE crew and talent?
McAree: We employed nearly 300 local crew members and contractors on the production, significantly exceeding the roughly 250 international crew members who travelled to the location. This translates to a substantial involvement of local professionals, which is extremely positive. Additionally, we utilized close to 500 local background extras throughout the 27-day shoot. The local requirements were significant, and we were able to collaborate extensively not only with the crew and talent but also with other departments and vendors closely affiliated with the Abu Dhabi Film Commission and the Abu Dhabi municipality. This support was particularly crucial when constructing roads through the desert.
Variety: In terms of accommodations, did A-list actors like Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya stay in the desert during filming?
McAree: The filming location was fortunately close to the Qasr Al Sarab Hotel, a fantastic desert resort that served as our central service point. It offers exceptional facilities and amenities. Initially, we recognized a potential challenge regarding the number of available beds. I proposed the idea of constructing a camp to the international producers, who were initially skeptical. However, it turned out to be a fantastic solution.
