DirectorDenis Villeneuvehas confirmed that development on a thirdDunemovie,Dune Messiah, is moving along nicely, with the script now “almost finished.” However, while the script may be close to completion, and while the filmmaker does hope to return to Arrakis one last time, we could be waiting some time before seeing Dune Messiah in theaters.
“[Dune Messiah] is being written right now, the screenplay is almost finished but it is not ‘finished’ it will take a little time. I don’t know exactly when I will go back to Arrakis - but my dream would be go a last time on this planet that I love.”
Villeneuve made the comments during a press conference in South Korea, going to add that he would first like to take a “detour” away from theDunefranchise for the sake of his “own sanity.”DuneandDune: Part Twoare massive undertakings for a director due to their large cast and epic scope, so Villeneuve’s feelings are perfectly understandable.
This is not the first time that Villeneuve has expressed his desire to make aDunetrilogy, saying back in August that it is his “dream.”
“If I succeed in making a trilogy, that would be the dream. Dune Messiah was written in reaction to the fact that people perceived Paul Atreides as a hero. Which is not what he wanted to do. My adaptation [of Dune] is closer to his idea that it’s actually a warning. I will say, there are words on paper.”
And whileDune Messiahmight be Villeneuve’s last visit to Arrakis, his co-writer Jon Spaihts has hinted that the franchisecould spawn six movies overall.
“Yes. Frank Herbert wrote six novels, I believe, with a seventh partially completed upon his death that was completed [posthumously] by his son.”
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Dune: Part Two Is Now Set for Release in March 2024
Dune: Part Two
Dune: Part Twowill explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen whileon a warpath of revengeagainst the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.
Directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts,Dune: Part Twosees Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgård, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Charlotte Rampling, and Javier Bardem reprise their roles from the first movie.
The sequel will add some major names to the already stellar cast list,including Florence Pugh(Black Widow, Oppenheimer) as Princess Irulan; Christopher Walken (The Deer Hunter, Seven Psychopaths) as Shaddam IV, the Emperor and head of House Corrino; Léa Seydoux (No Time to Die) as Bene Gesserit Lady Margot, Austin Butler (Elvis, Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood) as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, Souheila Yacoub (Rise) as Fremen warrior Shishakli, and Tim Blake Nelson (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs) who has been cast in an undisclosed role.
Dune: Part Twois set to be released on August 22, 2025, by Warner Bros. Pictures. Check out the trailer below:
