After Dune: Part Two, Denis Villeneuve is determined to make the sequel. But the filmmaker doesn’t want to rush, and he has another project in parallel. We shouldn’t expect a third film anytime soon.
Denis Villeneuve aims for a trilogy — a “ dream ” according to him. After Dune And Dune: Part Two, a third part could therefore see the light of day. If we follow the chronology of the literary saga signed Franck Herbert, then this Dune 3 will be an adaptation of volume 2: The Messiah of Dune.
We know that Denis Villeneuve is already working on this sequel. In Empire, during 2023, he declared that “ words were put on paper. »
“ I don’t want to rush »
Before the release of Dune 2, Denis Villeneuve reiterated his intentions. “ The desire for a third film is very real “, he says in an interview, “ but I don’t want to rush. » The director is determined to take the time he needs: “ The danger in Hollywood is that people get carried away and only think about release dates, not quality. » These statements are, in essence, very good news.
The third film is, at this stage, neither in production nor in pre-production. We also know that Villeneuve has other projects. If he won’t come back for a Sicario 3he wishes to adapt Meeting with Rama, the novel by Arthur C. Clarke. In this cult book from the golden age of SF, a ship in the form of a gigantic cylinder enters the Solar System; a space mission is dispatched there. What is in this mysterious structure? Denis Villeneuve would therefore remain, a priori, in the domain of mysterious and massive science fiction.
It is difficult, in this context, to imagine that Dune 3 could see the light of day within three years, as was the case between the first two parts. You will have to wait many years.
The adaptation of Messiah of Dune
What remains certain is that this third opus will feature images The Messiah of Dune. But Denis Villeneuve was clear: this adaptation will be less literal. Paul Atréides will not be described as “heroic”, and the notion of warning will be more present. Villeneuve wishes to be more faithful to the “idea” of this volume, rather than to its exact unfolding.
In any case, this third film will feature the famous holy war mentioned at the very end of the second part. This, approximately twelve years after the events already staged. Paul (Timothée Chalamet) became Emperor Muad’Dib there, revered as a god. Alia, his sister (Anya Taylor-Joy), will be present. Dune 2 is also not the last time we will see Chani (Zendaya), since the character is present in volume 2 of the saga, even if Paul is married there to Irulan (Florence Pugh).
No Dune 4
Denis Villeneuve will not go beyond a trilogy. Particularly because, after volume 3, “ the books become more… esoteric “, he explains. No Dune 4 to consider, therefore. Unless Warner then calls on another director – but we can also like to imagine that a cinematographic saga could finally have the right to bow out without being eternally stretched.
A prequel series called Dune: Prophecy
Originally titled Dune: The Sisterhoodthe HBO series project in the same universe has been renamed Dune: Prophecy. But the concept remains the same: it will be located 10,000 years before Dune and will focus on the Bene Gesserit sisterhood. This will be taken from The Community of Sistersa work by Brian Herbert (the son of Frank Herbert) and Kevin J. Anderson.
Denis Villeneuve is producing, but the series is created by Jon Spaihts and Diane Ademu-John. Although the casting has been known since 2022, it is not clear when HBO plans to air it.
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