Dune 2 filmed with lenses manufactured in Ukraine

The second part of the Dune movie, with a $81.5 million debut, was shot using lenses manufactured by the Ukrainian company IronGlass, Kostyantyn Harkaviy, a company representative, said on social media.

According to Harkaviy, the team has been manufacturing the mechanics of the lenses during wartime. Some of the team members worked remotely from the trenches.

“The mechanics of the lenses began in 2021 and early 2022. Then there was the war. Despite the hard times, the team continued to work, some on the ground, some remotely from the trenches,” he wrote on Facebook.

dune 2 ukrainian lenses — The lenses used to shoot Dune 2. Credit: Kostiantyn Harkavyi via Facebook

IronGlass specializes in upgrading old optical lenses by developing new housings and mechanics. Harkaviy said that this is not the first time these lenses have been used in a major film production, but the Dune movie was "a real testing ground."

"I'm very happy that we managed to make pre-production prototypes for Greig Fraser in time, and he fully utilized them on the Dune set," Harkaviy said. "It pleases me that the MKll from IronGlass was chosen among thousands of other options."

The cinematographer of Duna, Greig Fraser, said he was looking for cameras suitable for dynamic shooting, smaller and lighter than the Arri Alfa lenses, which were also used for the film.

"The lenses helped create texture. And they fit well with what I wanted.” Fraser said.

The American fantasy movie "Dune: Part Two" by Denis Villeneuve was filmed in Budapest, Abu Dhabi, Jordan and Italy.