LONDON: Abu Dhabi is to host the Middle East premiere of the much-anticipated film “Dune: Part Two,” it was announced on Friday. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @arabnews.lifestyle The screening of the sequel to the hugely successful 2021 film “Dune” will be held at Vox Cinemas at The Galleria, Al-Maryah Island, on Feb. 18. The film’s director Denis Villeneuve will join actors Josh Brolin and Dave Bautista at the red carpet event in the UAE capital. The new film picks up where the first installment left off and is Villeneuve’s continued adaptation of the 1965 Frank Herbert novel “Dune.” Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Souheila Yacoub, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Javier Bardem and Christopher Walken are just some of the names among the all-star cast. “Hosting the Middle East premiere of ‘Dune: Part Two’ is an honor for Abu Dhabi and is also a reflection of the position the emirate holds as one of MENA’s (Middle East and North Africa’s) top film and TV locations,” said Mohamed Dobay, Creative Media Authority’s acting director general. Production assistance on the film, including vehicle support, set construction and equipment storage, was provided by Abu Dhabi Film Commission. “We were delighted to support (Denis) Villeneuve’s epic adaptations of the novel ‘Dune’ and to provide around 20 Liwa desert locations as Arrakis,” Sameer Al-Jaberi, the head of ADFC, said in a statement. “Combining expert on-the-ground knowledge, location diversity, highly experienced local talent and know-how, competitive rebate and world-class facilities, a premiere moment really does provide the opportunity for all of our partners and service providers to see the culmination of all our efforts, not to mention showcase to future international productions on the ease of bringing their vision to life in Abu Dhabi.” The film will be released in the UAE and Lebanon on Feb. 29, and is scheduled for an April 11 release in other markets across the region to coincide with the Eid Al-Fitr holidays.