Chani’s decision to leave at the end of Dune: Part Two was shrouded in mystery, and it has massive implications for the future of the story.

Chani (Zendaya) with a horrified look on her face set against a fiery red and orange background in Dune: Part Two

The explosive ending of Dune: Part Two left many questions unanswered and caused viewers to wonder where Chani was going on the sandworm. Throughout Dune: Part Two, Chani told Paul Atreides that she would love him as long as he didn’t change. Paul did change, though, after drinking the Water of Life and because of the visions and dreams Paul had in Dune: Part Two. At the end of Dune: Part Two, Paul chose to begin his holy war, but Chani couldn’t go along with it any longer.

Paul also demanded the right to marry Princess Irulan as part of his plan to become Emperor, which served as the final straw. That decision only widened the rift between Paul and Chani, and she left him and his Fremen followers by riding a sandworm away from the capital city of Arrakeen. That was a departure from Frank Herbert’s books, though, so the next parts of Chani’s story in the movies remain uncertain. While there aren’t book details to tell where she’s heading, the movie left some clues about what the future could hold for her and set up Villeneuve’s take on Dune Messiah.

Chani Is Likely Returning To The Fremen’s South Sietch

Chani confronts Jessica with writing on her face in Dune 2

Chani never believed in the Lisan al Gaib prophecy, and she disagreed with many parts of the Fremen religion. Though she had her problems with Paul’s new role as a messiah figure to the Fremen, the most likely place she went would have brought her into the heart of that fanaticism. Chani likely went back to the Southern Sietch, despite its religious fervor, since Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen destroyed the Northern Sietch. She probably did this mainly to escape Paul’s direct influence, as even though he had followers in the South, she could avoid his leadership and maintain her independence there.

Chani Leaving On A Sandworm In Dune 2 Sets Up A Different Dune 3 Role

Zendaya looking surprised as Chani in Dune: Part Two Paul and Chani kiss on top of a sand dune in Dune 2 Timothee Chalamet as Paul and Zendaya as Chani in a vision of the future in Dune Paul Atreides and Chani on a Dune Part Two poster Zendaya as Chani smiling during a romantic moment with Paul in Dune 2

Chani played a big role in Dune Messiah, and she’ll likely be just as important in Dune 3. Her character can’t have the same arc anymore, though, as in the book she stayed with Paul. After the ending of Dune: Part Two, Paul and Chani’s relationship will never be the same, and that change could have drastic effects. Without Chani’s influence, Paul would be even further removed from his original motivations, which could lead him to commit to his holy war even further. Even if Chani ends up returning to Paul’s side as she did in the books, her relationship with him will forever be strained.

Chani’s ending in Dune: Part Two may have strayed from her story line in the books, but it worked perfectly for the movie. Her decision to leave on the sandworm came from a place of deep pain, and the betrayal she felt at Paul’s actions became the most emotional part of the story’s ending. It also serves to make Dune 3 even more intriguing and anticipated. While it seems likely that Chani went to the Southern Sietch, there is simply no way to tell what happened to her in Dune: Part Two at this point, and only Dune 3 can provide definitive answers.