Summary
TheDuneuniverse is getting a lot of attention now that big-name directors and triple-A gaming studios are bringing their talents to adapt the original books by Frank Herbert. Leading the charge are the movies directed by Denis Villeneuve, two of which have already been released to critical acclaim. The third movie in the series,Dune: Part Three, is expected to start filming this summer and is set for a December 2026 release date.
Several of the actors fromPart 2are returning to their roles, and rumors are still flying about other members of the cast. Robert Pattinson is apparently in talks to play the villain Scytale, but nothing has been confirmed. The production is moving ahead, andsome details aboutDune: Messiahhave been released to the public.
6The Trilogy Concludes
Despite Rumors To The Contrary
There’s a lot of material in theDunefranchise that could still be adapted, including the larger body of work produced by Brian Herbert, Frank’s son. This could explain why rumors initially circulated about another movie, or even two more, or a miniseries. Denis Villeneuve has confirmed, however, that he has settled on a trilogy that will end withDune: Messiah.
However, given the fact that the Atreides twins will be a bit older, there might also be some material inDune: Messiahtaken from the next book in the series,Children of Dune. The fourth book tells the story of Ghanima and Leto as they resist the rule of their aunt, the tyrant Alia, which may be featured in the upcoming movie. It would be one way to explain how Alia, Leto the Second, and Ghanima can appear in the same story.
512 Years Later
Similar To The Books, But With A Twist
The refusal of the other Great Houses to recognize Paul Atreides' ascendancy at the end ofDune: Part 2triggers a Holy War that puts the other families on the defensive, but aside from war, there are other ways to compete for the throne. The machinations of the Corinno family andthe Bene Gesserit never rest. The real question is who they will be, how they will approach Paul, and why?
The 12-year gap might be problematic for other reasons, specifically, what Chani’s role will be. In the books, she was present in the Imperial Court as Paul’s concubine, but in the movies, she left at the end ofDune: Part 2.She might have gone south, presumably as a way of rejecting his claim to the throne, or maybe she was raising his children in isolation.
4The Galactic Holy War
Paul’s Vision Of The Golden Path
The opening ofDune: Messiahtakes place 12 years after the last movie ended, which is the same time gap between the books. However, given the ending of the second movie, in which Paul and Chani seem to be separated, it’s unclear how their children, Princess Urualn, or the Imperial throne,will fit into the story.
In the book, Paul remains dedicated to Chani as his concubine, despite being married to Irulan in name only, and their failure to produce an heir makes his rule more vulnerable. Irulan and her Bene Gesserit training, which includes drugging Chani into infertility, have something to do with this. Without Chani at court, the story is going to take a different turn, which has yet to be revealed.
3Leto And Ghanima
The Twins Have Been Cast
There has only been one previous instance of the Atreides twins appearing in a live-action adaptation, and that was in the Syfy series. Like Alia, they are also considered “pre-born” because of theirexposure to spicewhile they were still in the womb. Thanks to a different connection to their Fremen ancestors and the fact that they were exposed to spice but not the refined Water of Life, they escaped the same grisly fate.
This time, Isa Brooke takes on the role of Ghanima, and Nakoa-Wolf Momoa, Jason’s son, will be playing Leto the Second.It’s a demanding role, because Leto begins humanity’s journey down the Golden Path, which Paul also saw but deeply feared.
2Duncan Idaho
Back From The Dead
Herbert also explored the idea of cloning and its implications for the future of humanity. InDune: Messiah, he introduced the concept of a ghola, which is something like a clone. They become more common in the future, but one of the early prototypes was Duncan Idaho. He was given the name Hayt and secretly assigned to assassinate Paul as part of an experiment to test his loyalty.
In the books, the ghola of Duncan Idaho was given as a gift to Emperor Paul Atreides by Edric, a Spacing Guild Navigator, on behalf of a group called the Bene Tleilaxu. These were spies and assassins who evolved from a splinter group of the Bene Gesserit. Whether or not this group will appear in the film has yet to be confirmed, but to see some of their work beforehand, theDune: Prophecyseries includes a character who is also a shapechanger, or “face dancer.”
1Alia
The Abomination
A surprise from the firstDunemovie was the appearance of Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia, Paul’s unborn sister, in a vision induced by the Water of Life. Viewers only see her for a few moments as she walks in a Fremen stillsuitover a sand dune to reveala vast ocean.
Alia will appear inDune: Messiah, which has been confirmed, but the nature of how is still unknown. Her exposure to the Water of Life while still in the womb has accelerated her aging process, so even if she were only 12, the character may appear as an adult in the movie. When the Bene Gesserit Mother at the end ofDune: Part 2said the word “Abomination,” she was referring to Alia, not Paul.
