Denis Villeneuve reveals that work on Dune: Part Three has already begun and teases the filming timeline for the sequel. Villeneuve directed and co-wrote Dune and Dune: Part Two, both of which were well-received by critics and general audiences. Dune: Part Two was also a box office hit that earned more than $700 million worldwide and was the highest grossing movie of 2024 until being surpassed by Inside Out 2. Villeneuve previously confirmed his involvement in Dune: Part Three, which will adapt Frank Herbert’s novel Dune: Messiah, and will be Villeneuve’s last adaptation in the franchise.
While speaking with Deadline, Villeneuve shared that “I’m in the writing zone right now” for Dune: Part Three and will “go back behind the camera faster than I think” for the story that will “finish the Paul Atreides arc.“When asked about a potential start date for Dune: Part Three‘s production, he mentioned “2026,“ although he clarified that “these movies take a lot of time to be made, so it’s best not to say out loud when I might shoot.” Check out Villeneuve’s other comments below:
Like Herbert did with
Dune
:
Messiah
, I think it’ll be a great idea to do something completely different. The story takes place like 12 years after where we left the characters at the end of
Part Two
. Their journey, their story is different this time, and that’s why I always say that while it’s the same world, it’s a new film with new circumstances.
What This Means For Dune: Part Three
The Adaptation Is Off To A Good Start
Even though production on Dune: Part Three is still far off, Villeneuve is already writing the scripts for the highly anticipated sequel. Just as he did with Dune and Dune: Part Two, he is taking his time to ensure that he creates compelling adaptations that do the source material justice. His genuine excitement and passion for Herbert’s novels and the intricate universe he created is evident, as is his enthusiasm for how the story continues and changes in Dune: Messiah.
Dune: Part Two‘s ending made some prominent, but powerful changes from the original Dune novel, especially where Chani (Zendaya) is concerned. These changes worked well in Dune: Part Two, but now Villeneuve needs to make sure that the changes can also work in his adaptation of Dune: Messiah. Between these changes, the 12-year time jump, and the developments that happen during that time, Villeneuve recognizes how different Dune: Part Three will be from its predecessors, a challenge that excites him as he works on the script and looks ahead to getting behind the camera again.
Dune: Part Three Will Be Worth The Wait
It is promising to hear that progress is already underway on Dune: Part Three and that Villeneuve even has a tentative production window in mind. The time that was taken on the previous movies paid off, particularly with Dune: Part Two, which remains one of the best movies of 2024. Villeneuve earned plenty of goodwill and trust after the success of Dune and Dune: Part Two, giving him as much time as needed in order to perfect the script for Dune: Part Three so it can live up to the movies that came before it.
Source: Deadline