Third time's the charm: the sand dunes are churning yet again, with confirmation that a third follow-up installation to the Dune franchise is underway. But those of us who've been referring to the project as Dune 3 (or Dune Messiah, as the book is called) will have a (very minor) change to get used to, with the film's official title now revealed as Dune: Part Three.
It also looks like lead Timothée Chalamet could be gearing up to begin filming, with some fans online noting that the actor appears to have shaved his head for the role. It's all speculation at this point, but Timmy was spotted in Europe wearing a hat and banadana over his head, with what appeared to be some very short hair poking through... Thought and prayers are with Kylie at this time.
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It's the latest we've heard since Villeneuve signed on for a final instalment in the Dune multiverse in mid-2024, which will mirror the Dune: Messiah trajectory from the literary series which inspired the saga and, with any luck, the final piece will follow the rage success of Dune: Part 2. So, in honour of these updates, everything we know about Dune: Part Three, below.
What do we know about the film so far?
So far, everything's fair game. According to Deadline, filming is set to begin imminently, with Villeneuve also sharing plans to shoot the majority of the film on Imax cameras.
What's the plot?
In the last two films, the director has remained faithful to the source material, so aficionados Frank Herbert's books can (hopefully) expect no ugly surprises. Following this logic, Dune: Part Three will propel the audience into the future twelve years ahead. Villains and antagonists will also be more of a nebulous area: Harkonnens are also notably absent from the plot of Dune Messiah. We might expect less in-fighting with sand snakes and more court intrigue in the form of lengthy diatribes.
Also important to note, speaking to Variety, Villeneuve said the film “will not be the completion of a trilogy."
“First, it’s important that people understand that for me, it was really a diptych,” he explained of the first two Dune movies. “It was really a pair of movies that will be the adaptation of the first book. That’s done and that’s finished. If I do a third one, which is in the writing process, it’s not like a trilogy. It’s strange to say that, but if I go back there, it’s to do something that feels different and has its own identity.”
Who is in the cast?
The narrative will likely continue with the interplanetary crew of fighters we've loved from the first film: Paul Atreides (played by Timothee Chalamet), Chani (Zendaya) and newly-betrothed Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh). There's also Austin Butler, Javier Bardem, Léa Seydoux, and Stellan Skarsgård.
There's also been reports that Villeneuve is looking to grow his A-list cast by one, with some saying that Robert Pattinson could be on board for the third chapter. Per Deadline, while nothing is official, the Brittish actor is currently a frontrunner for a role in the futuristic film.
If RPatz rounds out the cast, rumour has it that he would be playing the villain role of Scytale. And Lady Jessica, portrayed by Rebecca Ferguson, is likely to join the rest, despite her character not being a part of the Dune Messiah book.
Is there a release date?
The closest thing we have to an official release date is that the film will be released some time in December, 2026. We'll keep you updated here on anything desert-dweller or messianic in the meantime.
