Without getting into book spoilers, because I don't know them, and I don't
want to know them, the below is how Villeneuve explains the vibe of the ending. Basically, it sounds like the "out of control" element means that yes, the movie ends where the book ends, but the
world of the movie/book is still left in somewhat of a state if disarray, one that could be interpreted as a cliffhanger of sorts.
Also, Villeneuve has said recently that because he was able to come at
Part Two already knowing the events of
Dune Messiah - foresight that not even Herbert had when writing the first book - Villeneuve was able to better pepper this movie with setups for
Messiah, and come at things from a slightly different perspective than in the book, knowing exactly what comes next, etc. All of which could lead to more of a cliffhanger ending as well...
Quote:
In Dune: Part Two, which opens on March 1, Villeneuve creates a path to that next installment, but notes that this isn't his own invention. It remains faithful to Herbert's climax in the original novel.
"That's how the book ends," Villeneuve tells Vanity Fair. "The Dune book ends with the beginning of something that is out of control, and I thought this was a very powerful ending. I feel that both movies complete the adaptation of the book, and I feel very good about that. When people ask me, is there a world where I could do Messiah? Yes…"