The following contains spoilers for Dune: Part Two, now playing in theaters

Summary

• Dune: Part Two sets up a universe-wide "Holy War" for future films, providing a crucial transition to Dune
• The conflict between Paul's Empire and other Great Houses is a major event that alters the universe's order in Dune.
• Paul's struggle to prevent the Holy War in Dune: Part Two ultimately leads to his tragic acceptance of its necessity.

Dune: Part Two's ending, with Paul's victory on Arrakis failing to prevent the conflict from spreading across known space. Despite its importance to the overarching story of Dune, however, the "Holy War" is actually more of a plot point than an actual storyline for the series.

While Dune and Dune: Part Two have been steadily building to the "Holy War," the original books used the conflict more as a means to highlight the conflicts faced by Paul as he grows in power. It allowed Frank Hubert's subsequent novel, Dune: Messiah, to focus heavily on the fallout of the conflict and the way the universe responds rather than charting the conflict. This suggests the films could do something similar. Here's how Dune and Dune: Part Two seed a universe-wide conflict with the "Holy War," and what that storyline could mean is in store for a prospective Dune 3.

What Dune's "Holy War" Refers To

The War Between Paul's Empire And The Other Great Houses

The "Holy War" in Dune is a major event that spins out from the events portrayed in Dune: Part Two. It splits the universal system of order that's been in place for centuries in the Dune timeline. Following his successful capture of Emperor Shaddam IV and the defeat of Feyd-Rautha, Paul Atreides technically assumes the throne. However, the other Great Houses of the Empire refuse to recognize Paul's ascension, leading the young man to order his army of Fremen followers to take to the stars and claim "paradise."

The conflict ran for twelve years in the books and largely occurred between the events of Dune and Dune: Messiah.

This conflict is described by Paul's mother Jessica in Dune: Part Two as a "Holy War," and is what Paul spent Dune: Part Two trying to prevent. Paul's visions in Dune 2 suggest that the conflict he spurred on will result in the suffering of billions as the Fremen descend onto other planets and wage their Holy War against the rest of the Empire. The conflict ran for twelve years in the books and largely occurred between the events of Dune and Dune: Messiah, ending with the universe giving in to Paul's demands and finally recognizing him as the Emperor.

Dune's Holy War Happens Before Dune: Messiah

It Is Not The Story Of Dune 3 — It Is The Context Of What Happens Before It

In the Dune novels, Paul's Holy War doesn't play out for the reader and instead serves as a way to radically alter the universe between installments of the series. Instead, the next entry in the series, Dune: Messiah picks up twelve years later after the Atreides Empire has officially begun. By then, the Holy War is won. Having broken the defenses of tens of thousands of worlds across the cosmos, Paul and the Fremen have established the most powerful empire the Dune universe has ever seen.

Dune: Messiah is more focused on Paul's internal strife over continuing to commit to the Golden Path.

However, atrocities have been committed in his name as a result, leaving Paul conflicted atop his throne. Dune: Messiah is more focused on Paul's internal strife over continuing to commit to the Golden Path, a series of events he's foreseen that will ensure the survival and flourishing of humanity across the stars. The book also spends a great deal of time exploring a conspiracy hatched against his rule that his sister Alia Atreides (Anya Taylor-Joy) is forced to contend with.

How The Dune Movies Have Set Up The Holy War

How Dune & Dune 2 Explores Paul's Role In Setting Off A Holy War

Paul is also forced to contend with the very real fear that his actions will result in the loss or even death of Chani.

The coming Holy War serves as a major thematic element of Dune: Part Two after being teased in Paul's visions that could tease Dune 3. Due to his ability to see future events, Paul is forced to wrestle with the knowledge of the war's price. Paul's visions of the future paint a picture of a ravaged galaxy where billions suffer because of his choices. Paul is also forced to contend with the very real fear that his actions will result in the loss or even death of Chani, whom Paul comes to love. This keeps him from his destiny.

Dune: Part Two is largely focused on Paul's attempts to prevent the Holy War, building to his tragic acceptance of its necessity. Paul eventually drinks from the Water of Life and sees the paths the future may take. He decides his concerns aren't enough to counter the impact his Empire could have. This gives the teases of an epic Holy War a personal element tied directly to Paul's growth in the story, serving as the catalyst that turns him from a good man into a great (and horrifying) leader.

What The Holy War Means For Paul's Future & Dune 3's Story

Paul is also forced to reckon with the impact the now expansionist Fremen army has had on the galaxy.

Any potential future expansion of Paul's story would likely pull from Dune: Messiah, meaning much of the "Holy War" would be left out of a prospective Dune 3. Instead, the Holy War could be used to explain the state of the universe. The Holy War leaves Paul shaken on a fundamental level, as his visions of the conflict are countered by his knowledge of how things could have gotten far worse. Paul is also forced to reckon with the impact the now expansionist Fremen army has had on the galaxy, including the eradication of entire religions.

Paul's visions continue to drive him forward as they did in Dune: Part Two, forcing Paul into an impossible choice as his love for Chani threatens not only her life but the validity of his empire. If a prospective Dune 3 follows the trajectory of the books, Paul's visions for a post-war future will likely continue to drive him forward, building to the tragic but victorious events of Dune: Messiah. The Holy War might not appear fully in Dune 3, but could be the ideal bridge from Dune: Part Two to the next chapter of Paul Atreides' life.

Dune: Part Two is now playing in theaters.