In Hollywood, the trope of the White Savior has been a staple of the narrative, with white characters often portrayed as the heroes who swoop in to save people from their struggles. However, in Denis Villeneuve’s long-awaited Dune 2, this age-old trope is turned on its head as the movie goes against conventional notions of the male protagonist’s heroism and power.
Dune: Part Two, which is based on Frank Herbert’s iconic novel, tells the tale of Paul Atreides, a young man from a wealthy family who becomes embroiled in a galactic power struggle. Nevertheless, some fans who have not read the novels are calling the Dune sequel a ‘White Savior’ film.
Well, with his film, Dune 2, the acclaimed director is committed to bringing about a major change that will shake up the conventional narrative of heroism. That being said, Villeneuve breaks the myth of the White Savior by saying, “It will be seen from Chani’s perspective”.
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune 2 Is Being Accused of Having A ‘White Savior’ Story?
Even with Denis Villeneuve’s Dune 2 enjoying immense popularity, a significant portion of people still fail to see reality for what it truly is. Much like how, for instance, The Boston Globe and a few other publications asserted that the White Savior narrative is told in Dune: Part Two.
Unbeknownst to the general public, a White Savior narrative is a cinematic trope in which a White protagonist saves non-White characters (typically depicted in less prominent roles) from appalling situations. In the Dune universe, Timothée Chalamet’s character Paul Atreides will unavoidably be this ‘White Savior’. However, Paul is anything but a savior, as any reader of the entire novel series can attest to.
The first book of the Dune series, to give you an idea, made a strong case for Paul being sought after as the messiah, but the second book paints a very different picture. According to how the book is described by Frank Herbert, the author of the Dune novel series:
“No more terrible disaster could befall your people than for them to fall into the hands of a hero.”
Furthermore, Denis Villeneuve had already disproved the White Savior myth a long time ago. The director made it very evident in an August 2023 interview with Empire that Paul Atreides was anything but the protagonist of the saga. He said:
“Dune Messiah was written in reaction to the fact that people perceived Paul Atreides as a hero. Which is not what he wanted to do. My adaptation [of Dune] is closer to his idea that it’s actually a warning.”
According to Villeneuve, the narrative of the Dune sequel will be seen through the “perspective” of Chani, played by Zendaya (per Inverse). The goal of his choice is to dispel the myths of the White Savior that have long pervaded Hollywood movies.
Dune 2: Denis Villeneuve Changes The Narrative, Challenging White Savior Myths
From Chani’s (Zendaya) perspective, the proposed change by Denis Villeneuve in Dune 2 may seem like a step in the right direction. One could argue that Chani, the Fremen warrior, and Paul’s love interest was overlooked in favor of Paul Atreides, the male lead in the first movie. Villeneuve, however, promises to give her a larger role in the story, allowing her to assert control over her own fate.
To fulfill his vision of what Frank Herbert would find appropriate, Villeneuve changed the “nature of Chani’s character”. The director said (via Inverse):
“It will be seen from Chani’s perspective.”
The love story between Paul and Chani is coupled with Paul’s tale of defying destiny. The Fremen’s acceptance of Paul as one of their own and Chani’s love for him go hand in hand. But when the Fremen begin to accept Paul as their promised messiah, there is a conscious break. Villeneuve went on to add:
“The movie is structured on the love story between Paul and Chani. The idea was to make sure that we will unfold Paul’s story through this relationship, and that the very specific [turning point of] Paul will be seen roughly more from the perspective of Chani. And that is a very important shift. I changed the nature of Chani’s character to create a perspective that I hope Frank Herbert will agree with in order to achieve his goal.”
Well, all things considered, Villeneuve’s Dune 2 is a true success story; it has received positive reviews and has brought in over $198 million worldwide, making it the fifth highest-grossing film of 2024.
In case you missed it, Dune: Part Two is currently playing in theaters!
