Denis Villeneuve's third Dune film is advancing toward a December 18, 2026, theatrical release, adapting Frank Herbert's Dune Messiah. Production is underway in the desert, featuring returning stars like Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya alongside newcomers such as Robert Pattinson in a villain role. This installment will conclude Villeneuve's trilogy based on the original book.
Release Details
The third Dune film, directed by Denis Villeneuve, is scheduled for a theatrical release on December 18, 2026. Deadline first reported in June 2024 that Warner Bros. had reserved a pre-Christmas slot for the movie. This follows the successful launches of Dune: Part One in October 2021 and Dune: Part Two in March 2024, the latter delayed by the writers' and actors' strikes.
Production Status
Production began over the summer of 2025, with filming taking place in desert locations. Robert Pattinson, in an interview with IndieWire promoting his upcoming film Die, My Love, confirmed shooting scenes in the desert for Dune 3. The project adapts events from Herbert's Dune Messiah, set 12 years after the first book's story, focusing on the consequences of Paul Atreides' rise.
Cast Updates
Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya are expected to reprise their roles as Paul Atreides and Chani. Jason Momoa will return as a resurrected ghola of Duncan Idaho. New additions include Nakoa-Wolf Mamoa and Ida Brooke as the twins Leto II and Ghanima, children of Paul and Chani. Robert Pattinson entered talks in April 2025 for the villain role of Scytale. Nakoa-Wolf Mamoa, son of Jason Momoa, makes his big-screen debut in the role.
Future Plans
Villeneuve has stated this will be the final film in his Dune adaptation, completing a trilogy that covers the first book in two parts and then Dune Messiah. After wrapping Dune 3, he plans to direct the next James Bond film for Amazon MGM Studios, starting casting upon completion.