All is fair in love and war, both of which will be the main focus in Dune: Part Three, the highly anticipated capper to Denis Villeneuve’s film trilogy. It won’t just be about the Holy War, either, as Paul Atreides (played by Timothée Chalamet) and Chani (Zendaya) will stand on opposite sides of the battle.
“I trusted you,” says an enraged Chani in the opening moments of a new trailer for the film, which goes on to establish more context — Paul is now the Padishah Emperor who has “conquered the galaxy” and “destroyed thousands of worlds,” as Jason Momoa’s Duncan Idaho describes, and Chani feels betrayed by his actions, epecially after he promised to never “take power in [his name].
Duncan himself shares a similar sentiment, replying, “I think you’re way beyond redemption,” when Paul asks for his input on the subject matter. Elsewhere, Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) and Scytale, the new character played by Robert Pattinson, are rallying for a “regime change” against Paul, with the former spitting out, “Idiot, you’ve just signed our death warrants.” The rest of the clip showcases massive battles and, of course, sandworms, alongside the blood-drenched appearance of Anya Taylor-Joy’s Alia Atreides and Paul and Chani’s twins, held by their parents.
Set nearly two decades after the Harkonnens’ defeat in the second movie, the sequel is based Dune: Messiah by Frank Herbert but will likely deviate from the events in the novel. The first would be Chani’s role here, as she seems to be involved in the plot against her former partner (versus being Paul’s loyal partner in the source material), while the second is its billing as “epic conclusion” to the film saga, which leaves the next four books unaccounted for.
Other notable cast members include Rebecca Ferguson and Javier Bardem, who return as Lady Jessica and Fremen leader Stilgar, respectively; Charlotte Rampling as Gaius Helen Mohiam; Léa Seydoux as Lady Margot; and franchise newcomers Isaach De Bankolé (Farok), Nakoa-Wolf Momoa (Leto II Atreides), and Ida Brooke (Ghanima Atreides). Aside from directing duties, Villeneuve also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Brian K. Vaughan, with renowned composer Hans Zimmer handling the score.
“Now a ruthless Emperor, Paul must face the consequences of his reign as old allies return, terrifying new threats emerge, and betrayal lurks in every shadow,” reads the official synopsis. “Haunted by visions of Imperial collapse and the reappearance of his long-lost love, Paul is drawn into a sweeping conspiracy, with Chani at the heart of its unfolding mystery. As rebellion brews and enemies close in, Paul must confront the true cost of power and the fate of those he loves the most.”
Dune: Part Three is slated for theatrical release on 18 December, the same day as Avengers: Doomsday.
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
