Dune 3, the upcoming installment that will be Denis Villeneuve’s last ride with the franchise, is aiming to start shooting this summer. The film is in pre-production and has been prepping behind the scenes to shoot the movie in the summer.
Assuming key factors such as talent availability, filming locations, finished scripts, and a good schedule are met, summer is the aim for Dune 3. Villeneuve was originally planning for a break, but after the success of Dune: Part Two, he decided to keep the momentum growing. Dune 3 is expected to take place years after the second film, and Paul Atreides, in particular, is a changed man after the explosive ending of the second movie.
Dune 3 Looking to Start Summertime Shoot
The third movie will see Villeneuve adapt Frank Herbert’s sequel novel, Dune: Messiah, which completes Paul Atreides’s story. In the novel, Paul rules as Emperor for 12 years and unleashes a jihad that has conquered most of the known universe. However, his actions make him powerless to stop the ramifications of the religious war he has created. There is no official word on shooting locations, but the previous two films shot large parts in Origo Studios, Hungary, Jordan, and Abu Dhabi.
The official title of Dune 3 has not yet been officially released, but it is still in the works. Considering the summer filming aspirations, one can assume that it will free up Zendaya, who has a busy slate with Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, Euphoria season 3, which depicts and can impact teen life, and Marvel’s fourth Spider-Man film.
In Dune: Part Two, Paul (Timothée Chalamet) unites with the Fremen while seeking revenge against conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life, Chani (Zendaya), and the fate of the universe, he chooses to try and prevent a dark future.
Going from the novel, Dune 3 seems like it will pick up years after the events of the second movie. While speaking with Collider, Villeneuve spoke about his inspiration to get back on the Dune franchise. He said, “Chani’s heart is broken, and it’s the beginning of the Holy War. That’s where we left off, so in a way, it’s quite similar.
I was expecting to do something else before, but frankly, that inspiration came to my mind as I took a break this summer and was going back and finishing the story. I was really moved by the way Part Two was received by cinephiles around the world, and I felt an appetite and a desire to see more and a responsibility to finish that story.”
The franchise has become one of the biggest sci-fi phenomenons in recent memory, thanks to Villeneuve’s film direction. The success of the Dune movies makes it surprising that Villeneuve, the writers, or the performers weren’t nominated for an Oscar. Dune 3 also doesn’t have an official release date, although there have been reports of a 2026 release. The director’s return to the franchise is surprising, expressing interest in working on Annie Jacobsen’s Nuclear War: A Scenario. Villeneuve says Paul and Chani return to venture forth in Dune 3.
What This Means for Dune 3?
He said, “They have to return. They are with the main cast when it happens. And more worms. What can I say?” Regarding the storyline of Paul and Chani’s relationship, he adds, “It’s like the whole movie is structured around Paul and Chani’s relationship.” Originally, it looked like Villeneuve planned to start shooting the film next year. Still, in speaking to Deadline, he said, “I’m in the writing zone right now,” but then he clarified how much time it takes to make a film like Dune. “These movies take a lot of time to be made, so it’s best not to say out loud when I might shoot, ” he added.
Dune 3 will be the conclusion of Villeneuve’s association with the Dune universe, even though Herbert wrote four other Dune sequels after Dune: Messiah. The time window for filming Part Two and its release date was a year and nine months – and remember that the movie was affected by the writers’ strike. Considering that time window, it is safe to assume that we won’t see the film until some point in 2026 or 2027. Although I wonder how this film will impact Zendaya’s busy schedule in particular, it seems fitting that Dune 3 will be filming this summer
Plus, the time jump could be tricky to navigate, considering that Paul’s reign as Emperor lasted 12 years. There are many interesting things in Dune: Messiah, and I will not go into detail to save spoilers. Based on the time jump, it could be possible that the director may have ideas of aging the stars rather than recasting them.
However, I think it’s a foregone conclusion that the leading players are Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Christopher Walken, Javier Bardem, and Florence Pugh. There have also been rumors that Jason Momoa’s Duncan Idaho will return for Dune 3.
It’s fair to ask how Duncan could return when he died in the first film. One would have to get familiar with the gholas of the Herbert novels to answer that question. In the novels, Duncan resurrects as a ghola, which is a clone made from genetic material gathered from Duncan after his death. He almost becomes god-like in his immortality after becoming a ghola. So, if Momoa were to return as the character, it’s safe to assume he’ll appear as a ghola.
Final Thoughts
Dune 3 will conclude Paul Atreides’ story, and how Paul and Chani’s relationship turns out remains to be seen. In the books, Paul and Chani have twins, but unfortunately, Chani dies after giving birth to the twins. That story is not in the first two Dune films, and who knows if that storyline will be included in Dune 3. It is fully expected that Dune 3 will follow Paul’s decision to marry Princess Irulan and Chani will leave after feeling betrayed by Paul.
