Denis Villeneuve made it clear right from the start that his adaptation of Dune would take three films. The first two would cover the first book and a third one would wrap up the full arc he set out to tell. That plan is finally coming to fruition with Dune 3, which, according to lead star Timothée Chalamet, has already wrapped filming and is set to hit theatres in 2026. Officially titled Dune: Part Three, Villeneuve’s planned final film will adapt Frank Herbert’s second book, Dune Messiah and will most likely explore the aftermath of Paul’s ascension, the cost of the war that began the moment he claimed power, and the political and personal consequences.
With an all-out galactic war about to reshape the Known Universe, here’s a complete guide to everything we know so far about Dune: Part Three, from the release date and cast to plot details, trailers and what Villeneuve’s final entry means for the franchise’s future.
Dune: Part Three: Release Date
Mark the date, as Denis Villeneuve’s spice-fueled sci-fi saga will return with Dune: Part Three on December 18, 2026.
Dune: Part Three: Cast
If you felt the cast of the first two Dune films wasn’t already stacked with top talent, Dune: Part Three adds even more star power, pulling in some big new names while also bringing back the main ensemble from the first two films. Warner Bros. has yet to announce the official cast lineup, but it’s almost certain that Dune: Part Three will see Timothée Chalamet reprising his role as Paul Atreides alongside Zendaya as Chani. Rebecca Ferguson has already announced she’ll be back as Lady Jessica, while Florence Pugh has said Princess Irulan will return in the next chapter.
Jason Momoa has also revealed that he’ll reprise his role as Duncan Idaho, despite the character’s death in the first film. Other cast members, including Josh Brolin’s Gurney Halleck, Christopher Walken’s Emperor Shaddam IV, and Léa Seydoux’s Lady Margot Fenring, are expected to show up as well, though nothing has been officially announced yet.
As for newcomers, the biggest addition has to be Robert Pattinson as Scytale. Pattinson confirmed his involvement in Dune: Part Three by joking about just how hard it was to film in the heat, saying, “When I was doing Dune, it was so hot in the desert that I just couldn’t question anything. And it was so relaxing, like my brain actually wasn’t operating, I did not have a single functioning brain cell.”
Additionally, Dune: Part Three will see Momoa’s son Nakoa-Wolf Momoa make his big-screen debut as Leto II Atreides, while Ida Brooke will star as Ghanima Atreides. Here’s the current expected cast lineup for Dune: Part Three:
- Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides
- Zendaya as Chani
- Robert Pattinson as Scytale
- Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica
- Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan
- Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho
- Nakoa-Wolf Momoa as Leto II Atreides
- Ida Brooke as Ghanima Atreides
- Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck
- Christopher Walken as Emperor Shaddam IV
- Léa Seydoux as Lady Margot Fenring
- Charlotte Rampling as Reverend Mother Mohiam
- Javier Bardem as Stilgar
What Will Dune: Part Three Be About?
Now, this is where things get interesting. Dune: Part Three still doesn’t have an official plot synopsis, but all signs point to it adapting Frank Herbert’s second book, Dune Messiah. If that holds true, the upcoming film is unlikely to pick up where Part Two left off, instead moving the story about 12 years, as the events of the book transpire long after Paul first seizes the throne.
In an interview with Deadline, director Denis Villeneuve dropped some major hints about where things might be headed, teasing that the upcoming film will “finish the Paul Atreides arc.” As Villeneuve puts it, “Like Herbert did with Dune: Messiah, I think it’ll be a great idea to do something completely different. The story takes place like 12 years after where we left the characters at the end of Part Two. Their journey, their story is different this time, and that’s why I always say that while it’s the same world, it’s a new film with new circumstances.”
Herbert’s Dune: Messiah’s synopsis reads, “Dune Messiah continues the story of Paul Atreides, better known—and feared—as the man christened Muad’Dib. As Emperor of the known universe, [Paul] possesses more power than a single man was ever meant to wield. Worshipped as a religious icon by the fanatical Fremen, Paul faces the enmity of the political houses he displaced when he assumed the throne—and a conspiracy conducted within his own sphere of influence. And even as House Atreides begins to crumble around him from the machinations of his enemies, the true threat to Paul comes to his lover, Chani, and the unborn heir to his family’s dynasty…”
If Villeneuve sticks to the book, Dune: Part Three will pick up in the aftermath of a galaxy-spanning jihad that has killed billions. Chalamet’s Paul, now Emperor, will face growing resistance as the Bene Gesserit, Spacing Guild, and Tleilaxu team up to topple him. Given that Momoa, along with his son and Ida Brooke, are in the film, we can expect the film to feature some important bits from Herbert’s book, like the return of Duncan Idaho as a clone, the birth of Paul and Chani’s twins, as well as Paul confronting his own future as he goes blind but continues to “see” through prophetic visions tied to his children.
The ending of Dune: Part Two teases some of these story bits as Paul secures the imperial throne by agreeing to marry Princess Irulan while sheltering himself from the Bene Gesserit and the royal court. He even unleashes the Fremen across the galaxy, which triggers the holy war he has foreseen from the very start. Devastated by his political choices, Chani walks away from him, but Paul’s visions show that the two of them would eventually meet again, something the book explores in painful detail.
Are There Any Other Films Like Dune: Part Three?
Well, you can start by catching up on the first two Dune films, and if you are already done with those, we’d recommend that you check out Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 and Arrival. Moreover, you can also watch 1968’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, which continues to be a cult sci-fi classic even today, as well as Ridley Scott’s Alien and James Cameron’s Aliens.
