The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin has revealed he had some involvement in the script for Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two.
During a recent appearance on Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast, Mazin explained he is essentially out of the movie business but will collaborate with certain directors for an occasional gig. For example, he did some polish-up work on the Dune: Part Two script.
"I'm out of the movie business, basically," he said. "I'll work with certain directors when they call because I love them and because they're so brilliant, so if, like, Denis Villeneuve calls, then absolutely. I'm there for, three-four weeks, a month, to work on what you're working on."
Mazin stressed working on his own projects is his top priority, but he will sometimes add more work to his schedule. He then confirmed he recently contributed to the Dune: Part Two script, for which he will receive an "Additional Literary Material" (ALM) credit.
"I am a participating writer in Dune: Part Two," he revealed. "I came long after... I came in and did a little bit of work… It used to be that you couldn't even say that, but now they have this additional 'Literary material' thing at the end, so I am 'Additional Literary Material'."
The ALM credit was introduced in 2022, ensuring writers who have rendered WGA-covered writing services on theatrical features (but cannot claim authorship) receive acknowledgement for their contributions. Mazin didn't share any details regarding the nature of his involvement in Dune: Part Two, but he had high praise for Villeneuve.
"Anytime Denis makes a movie, you should be excited," he shared. "He is as kind as he is brilliant. He is a rare one, he's just remarkable."
Dune: Part Two was greenlit in 2021, continuing the story from author Frank Herbert's seminal sci-fi novel. The story follows Paul Atreides through his interplanetary travels, with the second part focusing on Paul's union with the Fremen tribe while on a warpath of revenge.
Villeneuve co-wrote the Dune: Part Two script with Jon Spaihts, and it will apparently be "a more action-packed, epic war movie" compared to the "contemplative first one". The movie wrapped production in December, not long after its release date shifted to November 3, 2023.
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.
source https://www.ign.com/articles/the-last-of-us-showrunner-involvement-dune-part-two-script