The second trailer for Dune: Part Two gave fans their first glimpse at director Denis Villenueve’s take on many of the most iconic scenes from Frank Herbert’s original novel. These included the well-known sandworm sequence, the reunion of Paul Atreides and Gurney Halleck, and the series’ main character finally uttering an epic line. While it might sound a bit different from fans of the first movie adaptation, it definitely has its roots in the book.

Paul’s victorious uttering of “Long live the fighters!” is one of Dune‘s most well-known parts, as it was immortalized in David Lynch’s 1984 movie. It symbolizes a major point of character development for Paul, and the way it’s being handled in the new film illustrates how exotic its cultural influences are. Likewise, the second Dune movie by Denis Villeneuve containing the line builds upon the many elements that its predecessor was leading up to, resulting in a resounding crescendo for fans and casual audiences.

Updated by Timothy Blake Donohoo on July 10, 2024: Dune: Part Two was a major hit in theaters, and it was just as successful on home video and the Max streaming service. One of the acclaimed movie’s most iconic scenes was when Paul Atreides finally utters his “Long Live the Fighters!” line from the book. Not only did the movie portray how to say “Long Live the Fighters” in the Fremen language, but it also perfectly encapsulated many of the book’s themes. With hype still surrounding the film, fans will want to know more about the now classic Paul Atreides speech.

Paul’s Most Epic Line In the New Dune Trailer Is Straight from the Book

Austin Butler’s critically acclaimed role in Elvis was what turned him into a star, but it’s not what got him the Dune: Part Two role.

Toward the end of one of the trailers for Dune: Part Two, Paul Atreides is seen rallying the allied Fremen around himself, with the heir to the House Atreides uniting them against their common foes: the Harkonnens. This uplifting and rousing speech by Paul ends with the triumphant utterance of (in the Fremen language) “Long live the fighters.” This rallying cry has its roots in the original Dune novel, in which a similar call to arms against the Harkonnen clan is uttered. Paul’s mother, Jessica, is present there, and she translates to herself his foreign tongue. Part of said speech is “yahya chouhada,” which translates as “long live the fighters.” Though it might seem like a mere rallying cry, the phrase has become one of the most iconic parts of the Dune franchise — especially its movie adaptations.

The phrase itself is meant to encapsulate the Fremen as a fighting force against a particular evil or opponent, with themselves being the fighters in question. The line was also used in previous adaptations of Dune, namely the David Lynch version. There, Paul Atreides (played by Kyle MacLachlan) said the phrase in English. This was one of many changes made in the contentious 1984 version of the story, which arguably did away with much of the story’s “exotic otherness.” After all, the line was uttered in English, whereas in Dune: Part Two, “Long live the fighters” is said in the Fremen language. This created the sense that Paul Atreides truly had become not only one of the Fremen, but the fabled Kwisatz Haderach (a.k.a. the Lisan al Gaib and the Mahdi of the Fremen). Such otherness was reflected in the fact that several elements in the book’s universe were clearly based on Middle Eastern and Islamic culture.

This can be seen in the very Fremen terminology, with “Muad’dib” which literally translates to one who disciplines and teaches manners in Arabic, and “chouhada” which means “martyrs.” That’s not to mention Dune’s outright use of the term Jihad, which is heavily associated with the Islamic religion. Given that the general story of the series has been likened to “Lawrence of Arabia in space,” these elements are more than fitting. The fact that Paul says the notable line in the Fremen language also highlights another element of the upcoming movie.

Dune 2 Finally Does the Second Half of the Book Justice

Dune: Part Two sees the Bene Gesserit’s plans to bring the Kwisatz Haderach into being come to a head, but what does it mean for Paul Atreides?

Perhaps the biggest problem with David Lynch’s Dune was that so much of the book was crammed into a movie that was barely two hours long. This saw the crux of the story and its many cultural examples of world-building simply sped through in order to adapt the entirety of the source material. That definitely isn’t the case with Denis Villeneuve’s Dune series, with the first 2.5+ hour movie barely covering half of the book. Thus, many of the most important scenes and story beats had to be saved until Dune: Part Two, which adapts most of the rest of Dune.

Paul’s speech scene is one of those story beats, and the fact that it’s such a hallmark of the new trailer shows that the movie will deliver on everything that fans and casuals felt was missing in the first film. That movie was definitely more slow-paced than the Star Wars-esque action blockbuster that some may have expected. But with the showdown with the Harkonnens happening in the new movie, these viewers won’t be let down this time. It’s also good that at least the “long live the fighters” line of Paul’s speech is in the Fremen language. From the casting to Hans Zimmer’s epic score, the new Dune series absolutely nails the foreign inspirations for the story.

The Fremen culture and the world of Arakis feel far more unique than the comparatively whitewashed portrayal in the old movie, and it makes for a more interesting experience. In being so otherwordly compared to what Paul is used to, it makes his triumph in leading the Fremen even greater in the story’s final acts. The Fremen are a divided people in the movie, with some of them being skeptical of Paul Atreides, while others see him as the fabled “Lisan al Gaib.” This causes friction between them, including Paul’s love interest, Chani. As a result, Paul’s conquest of them and ushering them into battle with the “Long live the fighters” line is such a dramatic moment.

Universal could potentially capitalize on the success of Dune: Part Two by giving fans what they really want — David Lynch’s official Director’s Cut.

Though the movie adapts this sequence from the book, there are still some changes to the source material in Dune: Part Two. These include Chani being more questioning of Paul, not to mention the handling of Paul’s unborn sister, Alia. In the book and the 1984 Dune movie, Alia is born with the knowledge of an adult Reverend Mother of the Bene Gesserit. From there, she participates in the story’s finale and even kills her maternal grandfather, Baron Harkonnen. She’s not born during the events of Dune: Part Two, however, and she’s only seen (as a young woman) in a future vision that Paul has. Likewise, her mother, Lady Jessica, communicates with her mentally through their psychic powers.

Despite these changes, Dune: Part Two is an epic masterpiece that perfectly brings the themes of the book to life. This can be seen not only in the handling of the “Long live the fighters” line, but other elements. Even the changes are done in a way that respects the source material, and fans are already waiting for more with the planned Dune Messiah adaptation. The new movie’s reception has cemented the new Dune series as an inarguable hallmark of science fiction cinema for generations to come, proving that the fighters truly will live long.

Future of the Dune Movie Saga

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes embraces the franchise’s themes while also highlighting their similarities to another recent movie: Dune: Part Two.

Dune Novels by Frank Herbert

Novel
Release Year
Adaptation(s)

Dune
1965
Dune (1984), Frank Herbert’s Dune, Dune: Part One, Dune: Part Two

Dune: Messiah
1969
Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune, Dune: Messiah

Children of Dune
1976
Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune

God Emperor of Dune
1981
N/A

Heretics of Dune
1984
N/A

Chapterhouse: Dune
1985
N/A

Just as in the Frank Herbert novels, the story of Dune goes far beyond the time when Paul shouts his “Long Live the Fighters” line. The next movie in the series will be based on the second novel, Dune: Messiah. This will depict the fallout of Paul taking over as the veritable Duke of Arrakis, though his relationship with Chani and the possible birth of their son (named Leto II after Paul’s father) will likely be changed to accommodate the events of Dune: Part Two. Conversely, if there’s a significant time jump, Dune: Messiah will also have a much bigger role for Alia Atreides, who was only glimpsed as a vision in the second movie.

The pending adaptation of Dune: Messiah will be Denis Villeneuve’s final entry in the series. After that, it’s unknown if Legendary Pictures will pursue another filmmaker to adapt Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune, Heretics of Dune, and Chapterhouse: Dune into movies. Before Messiah comes out, however, there will be a spinoff in the same universe as the movies. This TV show is titled Dune: Prophecy, though it was initially developed as Dune: The Sisterhood. Due to this, it may utilize some of the story elements of the Brian Herbert novel of the same name. On the other hand, many fans do not consider the Brian Herbert novels as truly canon, so moviegoers will have to wait to see how the show and the next film further the world of Arrakis.

Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family.