Can Paul Atreides Control the Worms In Dune?

In the 2021 Dune movie adaptation, Paul Atreides and his mother, Jessica are attacked by a giant sandworm. Paul doesn't prove to be fast enough, and the monster catches up with him. Yet, he remains unharmed. So, can Paul Atreides control the worms in Dune?

Can Paul Atreides Control the Worms In Dune?

Credit: Warner Bros

While this hasn't been fully discussed and analyzed yet, the 2021 Dune adaptation implies that Paul's powers allow him to control the sandworms.

When he fails to outrun a sandworm, all seems lost - all the more so because Paul had encountered one earlier in the movie and had witnessed the level of damage they can cause.

When he can no longer run, Paul remains calm in front of the sandworm. While the worm still causes damage, Paul and his mother manage to escape, causing some fans to wonder if Paul was controlling the worm in some way.

In any case, Paul's escape foreshadows another, more meaningful encounter with sandworms in Dune Part 2.

Can Paul Atreides Ride the Worms In Dune?

Credit: Warner Bros

In the world of Dune, riding worms is a coming-of-age ritual for the Fremen. Paul Atreides will be able to not only control but also ride a worm. As such, he'll be recognized as a Fremen leader in Dune Part 2, should the book canon be followed.

The ending of the first Dune movie with one of the Fremen riding a sandworm is quite telling.

We expect Paul's powers to keep growing in the second installments, and his encounters with the sandworms so far serve as a foreshadowing of further challenges and successes for him.

Related: 3 Big Moments the Dune Movie Left Out

Does Paul Become a Sandworm in Dune?

Credit: Dune

There are no indications that Paul will become a worm at any point in Dune.

This seems like a strange question, and yet some fans wonder. But why?

Related: Who Will Play The Emperor in Dune 2?

Those who have heard details about later Dune books might be thinking about this because in the third installment, Children of Dune, Leto II, Paul's son, starts a symbiosis with a sandworm to gain power and ensure humanity's survival.

By the next book, God Emperor of Dune, he has almost completely transformed into a sandworm.

Of course, this sounds quite odd and doesn't make full sense out of context, but it's a creepy and interesting element we hope to see in a future adaptation.