I’m A Big Dune Fan, And Denis Villeneuve’s Upcoming Sequel Just Made The First Change That Has Left Me Disappointed In The Blockbuster Adaptations

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I’m thoroughly impressed by Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films so far, as each decision in adapting the original work has been spot-on. The decision to split Frank Herbert’s novel into two parts was a brilliant move, enabling the entire depth of the book to be brought to life on the big screen. Although some alterations have been made to the story for the films, they’ve all proven to be strategic choices with favorable results.

Due to its impressive history, I am quite disheartened about the recent news regarding the upcoming Dune-based blockbuster, Dune: Messiah. Instead of naming the movie after the novel it’s based on, Variety reports that the project will go by the less engaging title, Dune: Part Three.

It doesn’t really shock me, given my frequent critique of lackluster movie titles these days. This new title aligns perfectly with that trend, and I can envision studio executives fretting over potential confusion between “Dune: Messiah” and the “Dune: Prophecy” HBO series released earlier this year. However, I must admit that I am indeed disappointed to see this happening.

The forthcoming film, marking the finale of Denis Villeneuve’s blockbuster trilogy, is adapted from Frank Herbert’s second novel in the Dune series. This story unfolds years after the conclusion of the first book and depicts a challenge to Emperor Paul Atreides’ rule, as a shadowy conspiracy takes shape, involving the revival of Duncan Idaho, who assumes the identity of a clone named Hayt, manipulating his former pupil subtly from behind the scenes.

In the upcoming adaptation of “Dune: Messiah,” Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Florence Pugh will reprise their roles as Paul Atredies, Chani, and Princess Irulan, respectively. After being absent from the sequel “Dune: Part Two,” Jason Momoa will join the cast to play Hayt. Additionally, Nakoa-Wolf Momoa (Jason’s son) and Ida Brooke have been cast as the twin children of Paul and Chani. Rumors also suggest that Robert Pattinson may take on the role of Scytale, a significant antagonist in the novel.

Initially, Denis Villeneuve intended to move away from the Dune universe after the release of Dune: Part Two. However, his eagerness to immediately delve back into the series has been fueled by the emotional suspense left unresolved in the 2024 sequel. Currently, filming for Dune: Part Three is in progress, and it’s been confirmed that certain scenes will be captured using IMAX cameras (contrary to rumors suggesting the entire movie will be filmed in this expanded format, like Christopher Nolan’s upcoming The Odyssey). Warner Bros. has officially scheduled the blockbuster for a theater release on December 18, 2026.

I’m disappointed that the movie will likely have a dull name, but I’m still eager for the project. Keep an eye on TopMob for the latest news about Dune: Part Three. If you fancy rewatching or discovering the earlier installments, they are both streaming now with an HBO Max subscription.

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2025-07-09 00:07