Denis Villeneuve Confirms Development Of Dune Movie Part 3

Occasionally, dreams materialize into reality. This rings especially true for both Paul Atreides and Denis Villeneuve, as the opportunity for Villeneuve to helm Dune Part 3 unfolds. On Thursday, Legendary confirmed their active development of a third movie within the sci-fi franchise, inspired by Frank Herbert’s seminal novels. Furthermore, discussions with Villeneuve are underway regarding the adaptation of Annie Jacobsen’s nonfiction book Nuclear War: A Scenario following this project.

Denis Villeneuve Confirms Dune Part 3 Movie in Development

In 2021, Villeneuve disclosed to EW that his overarching ambition was to create a trilogy of Dune films. While Dune: Part Two concluded the adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal 1965 sci-fi novel, Herbert authored five sequels before his passing in 1986 (with his son Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson further expanding the franchise with numerous additional works). Villeneuve has expressed his desire to adapt Herbert’s first sequel, 1969’s Dune Messiah, for the third installment of the series.

“I always envisioned three movies,” Villeneuve stated to EW then. “It’s not that I want to do a franchise, but this is Dune, and Dune is a huge story. In order to honor it, I think you would need at least three movies. That would be the dream. To follow Paul Atreides and his full arc would be nice.”

Denis Villeneuve Always Wanted 3 Movies

Indeed, Paul’s journey is far from concluded. Just as he begins to grasp the extent of his abilities, a new chapter unfolds in Dune Messiah. A few years after the events of Dune, Paul finds himself in a position of even greater authority. In addition, he faces new challenges posed by clandestine forces. This installment introduces new interstellar factions, such as the Tleilaxu. These are a group of advanced biologists famous for their advances in cloning and the use of shape-shifting agents known as Face Dancers.

This could also offer an opportunity to witness Villeneuve’s take on the Spacing Guild Navigators. These enigmatic beings rely on the spice melange to navigate interstellar pathways, despite undergoing profound mutations. While a Guild Navigator was notably depicted in David Lynch’s Dune adaptation, they have yet to appear in Villeneuve’s series. However, they play a significant role in the unfolding narrative of Dune Messiah, adding another layer of intrigue to the story.

Dune Part 3 expands the roles of the characters introduced in Dune: Part Two. It will also provide deeper insight into figures such as Princess Irulan (played by Florence Pugh) and Paul’s sister Alia (played by Anya Taylor-Joy). It also delves deeper into the evolving dynamic between Chani (Zendaya) and the Atreides, continuing their narrative arc of increasing disillusionment and complexity.

“Working with Anya and Floren is incredibly inspiring,” Villeneuve stated. They bring such depth and nuance to their roles, and they truly motivate me to consider making Dune Messiah. Their performances give me chills and ignite my desire to continue the journey.”

I am a circus aerialist influenced by Dick Grayson and Spider-Man. Fortunate to write about the characters that inspired me. I also have a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and a Master's degree in International Trade.