We’re Still A Year Away From Dune: Part Three, But We’ve Already Learned A Lot About The Film

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Originally, it wasn’t certain that Denis Villeneuve’s Dune would be three films long, but we’re now getting a third movie in 2026. Simply titled Dune: Part Three, it will continue the story started in the first two films, with the second released in 2024.

As a huge fan of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, I’ve been following all the news about the second movie, which will be based on Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah. It’s about a year away, and things are really starting to come together! We know who’s returning from the first film – thankfully! – and there’s even a new, major actor joining the cast. So, let’s dive right into all the details, shall we? You can revisit the first Dune anytime with your HBO Max subscription, by the way.

When Will Dune: Part Three Be Released?

Warner Bros. has set a release date of December 18th, 2026, for Dune: Part Three. Filming finished in November 2025, and reports indicate it was a difficult shoot, especially given the desert location in Abu Dhabi. As the planet Arrakis is meant to be a harsh environment, some of the actors understandably found the conditions challenging.

Variety reports that the movie was filmed using IMAX cameras – a first for the Dune series, although the previous two films were later released in IMAX. The biggest takeaway is how quickly production is moving along.

Who’s In The Cast?

Many of the original actors are back for this movie, and we’re also thrilled to welcome some new faces to the cast.

Timothée Chalamet As Paul Atreides

I’m so excited to hear that Timothée Chalamet is coming back as Paul Atreides in Dune: Part Three! He’s been amazing as the lead in the first two Dune movies, so it’s fantastic he’s continuing the journey. Honestly, he’s become a huge star since starting this role, and I thought he absolutely nailed it – I can’t wait to see him back as Paul!

Zendaya As Chani

Zendaya will return as Chani, Paul’s Fremen love interest, just like Timothée Chalamet. Although she didn’t have much screen time in the first film, she played a significant role in Part Two, and that will continue in the next installment.

Florence Pugh As Princess Irulan

Princess Irulan is a significant character in the novel Dune: Messiah, and Florence Pugh, who was in the second Dune film, is expected to have a larger role in the next movie as a result.

Jason Momoa As Duncan Idaho

Without giving away any major plot points for those who haven’t read Dune: Messiah, Jason Momoa will reprise his popular role as Duncan Idaho. Momoa was a standout character in the first film, and a favorite of readers of the books, so fans will be excited to see him return even after his character’s death in the previous movie.

Josh Brolin As Gurney Halleck

Fans love Gurney Halleck, and thankfully Josh Brolin will reprise the role. Brolin is a busy actor, but I especially enjoy his performance as Gurney and look forward to seeing him return.

Anya Taylor-Joy As Alia Atreides

I’m so thrilled about Anya Taylor-Joy joining the cast properly this time! We got a tiny taste of her as Alia Atreides in Dune: Part Two – mostly just her voice and quick glimpses since her character was still developing before birth. But now, she’s going to have a real, full role, and honestly, Alia is one of the most fascinating characters in the whole story. I can’t wait to see what she brings to it!

Rebecca Ferguson As Lady Jessica

It’s intriguing that Rebecca Ferguson will return as Lady Jessica in Dune: Messiah, even though her character has a limited role in the book. Ferguson recently hinted at a small part, but mentioned director Denis Villeneuve had a specific vision for it, which has fans, including myself, eager to see what that is. She was fantastic as Jessica in the first two films.

Robert Pattinson

It’s still unclear what role Robert Pattinson will have in the upcoming film, but Eric Eisenberg from TopMob suggests he might play Scytale. Scytale is a significant character in the source material, making this a plausible theory. Given the high-profile cast already assembled for Dune, it wouldn’t be surprising if Pattison plays a major role, as Scytale would be.

Jason Momoa’s son, Nakoa-Wolf Momoa, and actress Ida Brooke will play Paul Atreides’ children, Leto II and Ghanima, in the upcoming film. This completes the current casting announcements.

Dune: Part Three Is Based On The Book Dune: Messiah

If you haven’t read the books yet, don’t worry – we’ll avoid major spoilers. Dune: Part Three is based on Frank Herbert’s second Dune novel, Dune: Messiah, which was published in 1969 and is just as popular with fans as the first book. The story takes place about twelve years after the events of Dune, with Paul now ruling as emperor. However, despite his power, things aren’t peaceful. Paul has inadvertently started something within the Fremen people that he can’t contain, and it puts the entire universe at risk.

While Dune: Messiah is a bit shorter than the first Dune novel, director Denis Villeneuve will likely still need to trim some content for the movie adaptation. Considering his dedication to these films, we can probably trust his judgment on what’s essential, but any cuts are bound to disappoint some book fans.

Could There Be A Dune: Part Four?

Let’s talk about a possible fourth Dune movie. It’s uncertain if one will happen, and timing is a big issue. Director Denis Villeneuve is currently scheduled to make the next James Bond film, with a tentative release in 2028. This makes it unlikely he’d be able to direct a fourth Dune film right away, if one is even made.

A fourth Dune movie isn’t out of the question. There’s still a lot of story to explore from Frank Herbert’s original six books, and it could happen with a different director. But let’s not jump to conclusions. We’ll be returning to the world of Dune in about a year, and that’s something to look forward to.

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2025-12-30 23:10