It’s messiah no more, as the official name for the forthcoming Dune threequel has been revealed. To nobody’s surprise, it will be called Dune: Part 3, replacing the previously thought title of Dune: Messiah, after the second novel in Frank Herbert’s beloved sci-fi series.
The film is also set to feature sequences shot on IMAX cameras, but not to the same extent as Christopher Nolan’s big-screen adaptation of literary classic The Odyssey, which marks the first and so far only movie to be entirely filmed with IMAX cameras. As announced on X/Twitter, production on the trilogy-capper has begun, with a first-look image showing off the vast expanse of Arrakis.
While story details remain under wraps, Dune: Part 3 is expected to adapt the second book and explore Paul Atreides’ rise to power. Little Women star Timothée Chalamet plays the character in the Denis Villeneuve-directed movies, alongside Florence Pugh (Little Women, Black Widow) as Princess Irulan, and Zendaya (Euphoria, Spider-Man: Far from Home) as Chani. The Batman‘s Robert Pattinson is also rumoured to join the cast in an unspecified role, with Jason Momoa, who was absent in 2024’s Dune: Part 2, reprising his role as Paul’s trusted aide Duncan Idaho.
Villeneuve will return as director, while renowned composer Hans Zimmer has already made headway with scoring for the threequel, slated for release on 18 December 2026. It likely serves as the filmmaker’s final send-off to the franchise before he starts work on reviving James Bond under the Amazon MGM Studios banner.
The Dune universe continues to enjoy strong audience interest, cementing its place as a cult classic. A second season of HBO’s Dune: Prophecy spin-off is currently in the works, and Funcom’s Dune: Awakening MMO made history as the developer’s fastest-selling game with over one million copies sold in two weeks.
Dune: Part 3 opens in theatres on 18 December 2026.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
