This article is about the third film in Denis Villeneuve's film series. For the third novel in the Frank Herbert book series, see Children of Dune.
Dune: Part Three
DirectorDenis Villeneuve
Screenplay
Producer
Starring
CinematographyLinus Sandgren
EditingJoe Walker
MusicHans Zimmer
StudioLegendary Pictures
DistributorWarner Bros. Pictures
ReleasedDecember 18, 2026
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Dune: Part Three is an upcoming American epic space opera film co-produced and directed by Denis Villeneuve, who co-wrote the screenplay with Brian K. Vaughan, based on the 1969 novel Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert. It is the sequel to Dune: Part Two (2024) and the third and final film in Legendary Pictures' Dune trilogy. The film stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, Isaach de Bankolé, Charlotte Rampling, Anya Taylor-Joy, Robert Pattinson, and Javier Bardem.

While promoting Dune (2021), Villeneuve confirmed plans to adapt Dune Messiah if the Dune films were successful, later stating that it would be the final film he would work on in the series. Following the critical and commercial success of Dune: Part Two, the film was confirmed to be in development, and Warner Bros. Pictures set up a December 2026 release date. After the cast was announced throughout March, principal photography began in July 2025 and wrapped that November, taking place in Budapest and Abu Dhabi. Hans Zimmer returned from the previous installments to compose the film's score.

Dune: Part Three is scheduled to be released in the United States and Canada on December 18, 2026.

Cast

Josh Brolin reprises his role from the previous Dune films as Gurney Halleck, weapons master of House Atreides and one of Paul's mentors.[10] Nakoa-Wolf Momoa and Ida Brooke respectively portray Leto II Atreides and Ghanima Atreides, Paul and Chani's twin children.[11]

Production

Development

In 2011, Mary Parent, vice chair of Legendary Entertainment, and her producing partner Cale Boyter acquired adaptation rights for Frank Herbert's novel Dune (1965). In November 2016, Legendary acquired the film and TV rights for the Dune franchise.[12][13] Legendary hired Denis Villeneuve to direct a film adaptation of Dune, and later secured a production deal with parent company Warner Bros. Pictures to make a two-part adaptation of the novel.[14]

While promoting Dune (2021) at the 78th Venice International Film Festival, Villeneuve confirmed he planned to adapt Herbert's second novel in the series, Dune Messiah (1969), as a part of his franchise if the Dune films were successful.[15] After Dune: Part Two (2024) was greenlit in October 2021, Villeneuve reiterated his hope of creating a film based on Dune Messiah.[16][17] Screenwriter Jon Spaihts confirmed in March 2022 that Villeneuve still had plans for a third film, alongside planned television spin-off projects within the Dune franchise.[18] Villeneuve intends for Dune Messiah to serve as his final Dune film and installment within his Paul Atreides trilogy.[19] He wanted to take a break prior to producing the film due to being exhausted by directing the films back-to-back, intending to direct another film in between.[20]

Following the release of Dune: Part Two, Legendary CEO Joshua Grode stated that the studio was "engaged" in development.[21] In March 2024, Villeneuve was cautious about making the film, as he wanted to ensure the script was good and said he would make the film only if he felt it was superior to Part Two.[22] By the next month, the film was confirmed to be in development by Villeneuve and Legendary Entertainment.[23][24] In June 2024, Warner Bros. announced a December 18, 2026, release date for an upcoming film directed by Villeneuve, with The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline Hollywood speculating it was the third Dune film. Deadline Hollywood also stated that work on the script and casting had continued.[25][26] In October 2024, Villeneuve said he was still writing the film and that he expected to begin production sooner than what he previously expected.[27] In August 2025, it was confirmed that Linus Sandgren would serve as the film's cinematographer, replacing Greig Fraser, who previously worked on Dune and Dune: Part Two, due to Fraser's commitments on Sam Mendes's four separate planned the Beatles biopic films he is producing and directing for April 2028.[28]

Writing

While writing Dune: Part Two, Villeneuve noted Herbert's original intention to avoid depicting Paul Atreides as a heroic figure, intending for him to critique the idea of the Messiah and be an antihero. This impacted how he wrote Paul in Part Two, and said that its ending would eventually set up the sequel.[29][30] He later emphasized he did not consider Part Three as a conclusion to a trilogy and instead approached it as a standalone film with its own "identity."[31] As early as August 2023, Villeneuve began conceiving of potential ideas for the film, saying that there were "words on paper". He also expected it to serve as the final film in his trilogy with Dune and Dune: Part Two.[32] By that December, he said that he had almost finished writing the script.[20] Work continued that next month, with Villeneuve reiterating the film would conclude the story arc for Atreides.[33] He was still writing the film October of that year.[27] In February 2025, Villeneuve stated that Chani's heart was "broken" and that the film would begin with the initiation of the "Holy War". He felt a "responsibility" to finish his work on the film after seeing the positive critical reception that Part Two had received.[34] In October, actress Rebecca Ferguson described the script as "phenomenal" and "hard to create" given how dense the original book was due to how much it told, but that Villeneuve was able to dip in and out of it due to his desire to make certain "connections and tentacles" to the book.[4] In March 2026, with the release of the first trailer, it was revealed Brian K. Vaughan had co-written the screenplay alongside Villeneuve.[35] It was also revealed that unlike the original novel, which takes place 12 years after the first book, Part Three takes place 17 years after Part Two.[35]

Casting

In March 2025, Jason Momoa revealed that he would reprise his role as Duncan Idaho from the first film.[2] In November 2025, it was confirmed that Robert Pattinson would also appear in a role,[36] with Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Florence Pugh confirmed to return from the previous films.[1] Outlets speculated that Pattinson would be playing the film's villain, Scytale;[37] In June 2025, Momoa's son Nakoa-Wolf Momoa in his debut acting role, and Ida Brooke were announced as being cast as Leto II and Ghanima Atreides, respectively.[11] In August, Josh Brolin confirmed that he would return as Gurney Halleck.[10] That same month, Variety confirmed Pattinson's involvement with the project.[38] In October 2025, Ferguson revealed that she had reprised her role as Lady Jessica for the film, albeit only in one scene since the character does not appear in the book. Villeneuve did not intend on including her in the film until he had an idea to warrant her presence.[4] In March 2026, it was revealed that Isaach de Bankolé was cast as Farok.[5]

Filming

Principal photography began on July 8, 2025, at Origo Film Studios in Budapest.[39][40][41] It was previously expected to begin in 2026.[27] A day later, it was announced that the film would be titled Dune: Part Three.[42] In August 2025, the Abu Dhabi Film Commission confirmed that filming would take place in Liwa Oasis during the latter stages of the year.[43][44]

IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond suggested that the entire film would be shot with IMAX cameras, though Variety reported that this was inaccurate as only select sequences were shot with IMAX cameras.[45][42] The film is primarily shot on 65mm film stock, with select sequences shot on 15/70mm IMAX film. However, scenes of the desert were shot with IMAX-certified digital cameras to preserve the "brutality" of the environments, according to Villeneuve.[35] This differs from Dune: Part One and Part Two, which were entirely shot with IMAX-certified digital cameras and then printed onto 35mm film stock, before being re-scanned digitally to emulate shot-on-film photography.[46] By October 2025, Ferguson had shot her scenes as Lady Jessica.[4] In November, Pattinson confirmed he wrapped his part, in which he stated that he simply obeyed Villeneuve's direction as his brain "wasn't actually operating" due to the desert's heat.[47] Filming wrapped on November 11.[48]

Post-production

Joe Walker returned as the editor from the previous two films.[49]

Music

In February 2024, Hans Zimmer was confirmed to be returning from the previous installments to compose the film's score.[50]

Release

Dune: Part Three is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States by Warner Bros. Pictures on December 18, 2026, in IMAX.[51][52] Select IMAX 70mm tickets went on sale for 19 locations on April 6, 2026 and sold out within minutes.[53]

Reception

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Golden Trailer AwardsMay 28, 2026Best Fantasy/AdventureWarner Bros. / Jax[54]
[55]
Best Original Score
Best Summer 2026 Blockbuster Trailer

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