Well, the Academy Awards and award season is over, which means it’s time for some updates on the upcoming year’s biggest projects. And few come bigger than Denis Villeneuve‘s return to Arrakis in Dune: Part Three. Villeneuve teased the start of filming last with a behind-the-scenes image confirming cameras were rolling. Now, with the film having wrapped shooting, that means the film heads into post-production — which for Dune usually means a marathon of effects, score refinement, and Villeneuve’s meticulous worldbuilding. And it’s now that we have an update, via the first gaggle of posters.

Timothée Chalamet had earlier posted a stirring image of what appears to be an aged Paul Atreides, lined face and all, under a mask — but with those vivid, blue, spice-powered eyes. It’s the first proper tease we’ve had of the movie. And now, we’ve had first looks at Anya Taylor-Joy, Robert Pattinson and a return for Jason Momoa, among others.

But that release date is an issue. Right now, Dune: Part Three is set to hit theaters December 18, 2026. Yes, that’s the exact same weekend currently occupied by Avengers: Doomsday. If neither budges, we might see Hollywood attempt another Barbenheimer moment — one hopefully more successful than the viral attempt to pair Wicked with Gladiator II. But realistically, industry watchers expect at least one to shift dates, and indeed, speculation has just begun to bubble that Dune will head for October to give itself some breathing room. It’s a sensible call.

What Can We Expect From ‘Dune: Part Three’?

As for the plot, it sees Timothée Chalamet‘s Paul Atreides return. Paul has ascended to Emperor, faces rebellion among the great houses, and navigates the political consequences of his visions and jihad. The film will also depict his marriage to Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) alongside the tension with Chani (Zendaya) — a story that tests Paul as ruler, lover, and reluctant messiah.

The film also sees the return of Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho after his resurrection in the lore, with newcomers Robert Pattinson and Anya Taylor-Joy (following her Part Two cameo) also joining in the fun. Until next year, you can revisit the spice wars: Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two are streaming on HBO Max.

via Collider