First Look at Sequel to $715M Sci-Fi Masterpiece Teased by Star

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Science fiction films have thrived in the 2020s, and the trend is expected to continue. We’ve already seen a fantastic combination of fresh ideas and successful franchises delivering incredible stories and visuals – think films like *Tenet*, *Everything Everywhere All At Once*, and *Avatar: The Way of Water*. The *Dune* franchise perfectly exemplifies this success, giving us two of the best sci-fi movies of recent years, with another one planned.

Dune: Part Two was a remarkable achievement, exceeding the quality and financial success of the first film – it earned $715 million worldwide, compared to $411 million for the original, which was affected by the pandemic. A third movie, Dune: Part Three, is scheduled for release in 2026. Recently, Timothée Chalamet shared a behind-the-scenes image on his Instagram Stories, giving fans a first glimpse of the upcoming film (as reported by Secrets of Dune).

The photo shows Timothée Chalamet, who stars as Paul Atreides, gazing into the sunset in a desert landscape. The caption simply reads, “DUN3 LOADING.” This appears to be a shot from the film’s set in Abu Dhabi, specifically the Liwa Oasis, which is standing in for the planet Arrakis. Filming began in Budapest in July and then moved to the UAE. Chalamet’s post suggests that more official photos from the movie might be released soon, now that a significant portion of the film has likely been shot.

2026 Will Be A Great Year For Sci-Fi Movies (& Not Just Because Of Dune 3)

As a huge fan of the series, I’m incredibly excited for *Dune 3*, though I know it has a tough act to follow. *Part Two* was a masterpiece, and adapting *Dune Messiah* – the book the third film is based on – seems really challenging. It’s a much stranger and more complex story than what we’ve seen so far. Still, having Denis Villeneuve directing again, with most of the original cast *and* the addition of someone like Robert Pattinson? That gives me a lot of confidence. I fully expect it to be another fantastic sci-fi film, but 2026 is already shaping up to be a great year for the genre, so it won’t be the only standout movie.

Sci-fi fans have a lot to look forward to this year! On March 20th, Ryan Gosling stars in *Project Hail Mary*, based on the novel by Andy Weir – the author who brought us the hit movie *The Martian*. That’s a good sign for this one! And just a week later, Ridley Scott, the director of classics like *Alien* and *Blade Runner*, returns with *The Dog Stars*. This post-apocalyptic film, starring Jacob Elordi, is set in a world recovering from a devastating virus that nearly wiped out humanity.

In 2026, legendary director Steven Spielberg will return to science fiction after a long break. Known for classics like *Close Encounters of the Third Kind* and *E.T.*, he’s working on a new, currently unnamed film about UFOs. The movie promises to be a thrilling return to form, capturing the wonder and excitement audiences expect from Spielberg. It’s set to hit theaters on June 12th.

Several major franchise films will be released around the same time, including *The Mandalorian and Grogu* (May 22nd), *Supergirl* (July 26th), and *Avengers: Doomsday* (December 18th – the same day as *Dune: Part Three*). Despite these releases, *Dune 3* still looks like it will be the most anticipated film, but there’s plenty to look forward to. Hopefully, we’ll get more details about the return to Arrakis and these other movies soon.

The third Dune movie, titled *Dune: Part Three*, is scheduled to come out on December 18, 2026. You can currently watch the first two Dune films on HBO Max.

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2025-10-20 16:41