Dune: Paul's Sister Explained (Alia Atreides)

In Dune Part Two, the movie opens with Paul Atreides speaking to his unborn sister in the womb. Alia Atreides is one of the most interesting and magical beings in the entire Dune lore, with the power of prescience unlocked when Jessica drank the Water of Life to become a Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother. Appearing in the film only as an embryo, voice, and vision, St. Alia of the Knife will have a larger role in Dune: Messiah and beyond, if Denis Villeneuve adapts the rest of Frank Herbert's novels.

Media used:
Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024) dir. Denis Villeneuve
Dune (1984) dir. David Lynch
Dune SyFy Miniseries (2000-2003) dir. John Harrison, Greg Yaitanes
Dune: The Graphic Novel (2020) art by Raúl Allén, Patricia Martín

0:00 Spice visions
1:22 Learning the Harkonnen truth
3:06 Alia's power
4:26 St. Alia of the Knife

#dune

[mckappe]

I think that the Dunes universe is the most splendid and underrated in all of sci-fi/fantasy literature.

[Ktfunkbeat]

thank you so much for the explanation. would love to hear more

[LeeCarlson]

In the movies, Paul does not learn of Jessica's pregnancy "off-screen, " but during their flight from the assassins who attacked in Part One, while they are secreted in the still-tent that they were supplied with.

[MikePhilbin]

I think ALIA will be Dune Messiah (film)'s opening narrator; Chani, Irulan, Alia. ;)

[tb]

Thought Dune 2 really missed the point by not having Alia put the screws on the Emperor and the Reverend Mother and kill the Baron. That sets the scene for the reader/viewer to understand how evil the Atreides are. First read Dune in the 70s and to this day think it is one of the all time great works of literature. Herbert hit a grand slam with Dune.

[neowuwei]

Even with minor changes in the plotline, these are great novels and with current FX, they can be brought to the screen with more stunning visuals than anyone could have imagined in the first Dune version. All they need are to give out free samples of cinammon at each showing of the movie. 🤣

[SioPao]

I dont get how Vladimir Harkonnen can control Alia when supposedly female benes can only access their female ancestors...

[stevechance]

Nope!! I don't want to risk spoilers for Dune Messiah. I'm not going to watch this video.

[roguephoenix]

i guess she's scary spice of the arrakis spice girls.

[craw]

I dislike the fact that she was left out of the movie…. They could’ve gotten a child to play that role again

[sandbridgekid]

Dune should have been 3 parts. The Two Year time jump included. I'm actually quite disappointed in the current movies.

[uniblonder]

Holy... I thought the bleach blonde with the googley eyes as Alia was a JOKE. FFS..