In Dune, lead character Paul Atreides is known by many names, including Muad’Dib, Lisan al Gaib, and the Kwisatz Haderach. Now, his next big-screen appearance, which has been referred to as Dune: Messiah, has an official title of its own. Following up on 2021’s Dune and 2024’s Dune: Part 2, the third (and allegedly final) part of director Denis Villeneuve‘s trilogy of Frank Herbert adaptations will be called Dune: Part 3. It is set to be released on December 18, 2026.
Variety reports that IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond revealed the name of the film in an interview on CNBC. While he also stated that the film would be filmed entirely in IMAX, which had never been done for a major studio film until Christopher Nolan‘s currently-in-production adaptation of The Odyssey, that was apparently an error; however, portions of the movie will be filmed in IMAX. Gelfond was responding to the recent announcement that Villeneuve is Amazon MGM Studios‘ choice to helm the next James Bond movie: “From a personal point of view, I was really happy. I like him. I think he’s a genius filmmaker. He’s so creative.” 007 will have to wait, however, as Villeneuve will make Dune: Part 3 first.
What Do We Know About ‘Dune: Part 3’?
Dune: Part 3 will adapt the second book of Herbert‘s Dune series, Dune: Messiah, which was first published in 1969, four years after the publication of Dune. The book centers around Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), who has become the messiah to the desert-swelling Fremen of Arrakis and the Emperor of the known universe, and his struggles to set humanity on the correct path; however, he is beset on all sides by intrigue and betrayal, leading to tragedy. However, Villeneuve‘s films have already taken some liberties with the source material; most notably, Chani (Zendaya) returns to the desert after Paul’s coronation in the film, rather than remain as his concubine alongside his wife, Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh), as he does in Herbert’s novel. Chalamet, Pugh, and Zendaya are all set to return for the sequel, as is Jason Momoa as Paul’s trusted aide Duncan Idaho. Paul’s twin children, Leto II and Ghanima, will be played by newcomers Nakoa-Wolf Momoa (Jason’s son) and Ida Brooke. Robert Pattinson has also been rumored to join the cast in an unspecified role.
Villeneuve‘s adaptations of Herbert‘s once-thought-unfilmable Dune novels have been striking commercial and critical successes. The films also spawned a spin-off TV series, Dune: Prophecy, on HBO; produced by Villeneuve, the series takes place millennia before the events of Dune, and chronicles the origins of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood Paul’s mother, Lady Jessica, belongs to.
Dune: Part 3 is in development, and is slated to be released on December 18, 2026.
via Collider