If Dune underperforms at the box office like other WB movies such as "In the Heights" or "The Suicide Squad," would that kill any hopes for a sequel?

Dune is without a doubt one of my most anticipated movies of 2021. I'm actually reading the first Dune book in preparation (really enjoying it so far!) and with Denis Villeneuve helming it, how can I not be excited?However, I'm feeling worried about the movie's box office performance. With Warner Bros. releasing their entire 2021 slate simultaneously in theaters and HBO Max, I have a feeling a lot of people would prefer to watch it at home than venture out to see in theaters due to concern over the Delta variant and the simple convenience of watching it on your couch.We've seen WB's other movies like In the Heights and The Suicide Squad underperform so I'm just going to assume Dune is going to fall to the same fate. If it does, is the sequel doomed? Considering the first movie is only going to cover the first half of the book, it would be a damn shame if we never at least got the final part to it.Dune also may not have the same appeal and name recognition as something like a Lord of the Rings or a Harry Potter to interest more mainstream moviegoers, so that could also work against it.However, if Dune does get great critical and audience reception and does great during awards season, could that help the decision to make a sequel? Let's say it gets nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars (and let's also say it wins; a pipe dream at the moment, but hear me out) would that factor into WB's decision? Plus, that would be milestone as it would be the first science fiction film to win Best Picture.This logic doesn't play out when you look at other critically-acclaimed big budget movies like Blade Runner 2049 or Mad Max: Fury Road which were critically loved, nominated for awards but never got follow-ups. (I'm still waiting for the next Mad Max movie fingers crossed) but who knows what the future holds. via /r/movies https://ift.tt/3gFdqjf