10 Most Exciting Things To Expect From Dune 3

Includes SPOILERS for Dune Messiah, which Dune 3 will be based on.

Now that Dune: Part Three has been officially announced as in development, there are many exciting things to look forward to in the upcoming chapter. The first two films, 2021’s Dune and the 2024 sequel, Dune: Part Two, only covered the first installment of Frank Herbert’s six-book Dune series, with the original 1965 novel’s expanded narrative split into two parts. Dune 3 should, therefore, be a one-to-one adaptation of Dune Messiah, which is a far shorter book.

Since Dune 2’s monumental box office success, the possibilities of Dune 3 have been in discussion. The Legendary Films studio has announced the film to be in early development, with filmmaker Denis Villeneuve set to return. However, the delay between films could be longer this time around, as Villeneuve has expressed a desire to explore other projects for a time, and in-world, Dune Messiah sees a 12-year time jump from the first movie. That leaves plenty of time for speculation regarding the film series’ future.

10 Denis Villeneuve Will Bring His Distinct Style For An Epic Conclusion

Denis Villeneuve Wouldn’t Return For Dune 3 Unless He Had Something Special In Mind

One of the most captivating elements of Dune 2 is the unique directorial vision. Denis Villeneuve’s best movies, be it Blade Runner 2049 or Arrival, have all had stunning visuals to support their complex narratives. Dune 2 is perhaps his most impressive accomplishment yet, faithfully bringing to life the climax of one of science fiction’s most prolific novels.

Villeneuve has implied that the only way he’d be interested in making Dune 3 is if it could surpass the second film, so the film’s cinematography should be enormously exciting. Dune Messiah isn’t exactly as vast and explosive of a novel as the original, focusing more heavily on schemes and inter-character narratives, but the beauty of adaptation means making changes for a more cinematic experience. With several new elements to introduce, Dune 3 could be the most stunning film in the series.

9 Dune 3 Will Have Even More Political Scheming Than Before

Dune Messiah’s Plot Is Centered Around Varying Political Schemes

One of the main appeals of the Dune series is that it’s not a narrative about good and evil, like The Lord of the Rings. Dune introduces several elements, such as feuding noble houses, the Fremen people, the overshadowing emperor, and other factions like the Bene Gesserit. Dune 2 changes several aspects of the book, including the removal of the Spacing Guild, another faction that would’ve added nuance to the political conflict.

Every faction and house in Dune adds to the complexity of the expanding narrative, and this will be on full display in Dune 3. With Paul Atreides in power as the Emperor of the Known Universe, several forces will be at work to undermine his position. Florence Pugh’s Princess Irulan seeks revenge against Paul for overthrowing her father, Reverend Mother Mohaim hopes to see Paul taken off the throne after the genocide he commits between books, and new characters like Scytale will join them in opposing the Atreides rule.

8 Dune 3 Will Introduce The Tleilaxu

The Tleilaxu Are A Group Of Genetically Modified Humans Introduced In Dune Messiah

The aforementioned Scytale is a member of the Tleilaxu, also known as the Bene Tleilax, a group of genetically modified humans. The Tleilaxu are introduced as antagonists in Dune Messiah, though they aren’t necessarily evil. Scytale is directly involved with the plot against Paul Atreides, utilizing an artificial recreation of Duncan Idaho (Jason Momoa) to infiltrate Paul’s court.

Genetic engineering is an enormous aspect of the Tleilaxu, as they use “Axolotl tanks” to produce human beings from taken corpses. In Dune Messiah, the Tleilaxu are revealed to have gathered Duncan Idaho’s remains and use them to recreate him. They also use the same method to create assassins called Face Dancers, who can utilize the physical appearance of others. Scytale is notably a Face Dancer, making him an incredible threat to the Atreides house, both physically and as a tactician.

7 Anya Taylor-Joy Will Be Properly Introduced As Alia Atreides

Anya Taylor-Joy’s Character Will Play A Significant Role Going Forward

One of the most significant changes in Dune 2 was the near omission of Alia Atreides, a critical character from the book. In the novel, she’s born as a sentient baby due to the Water of Life and is the one to take the life of Baron Vladimir Harkonnen at just two years old. In the film, she remained in Lady Jessica’s womb, communicating with her mother before she’s born. Dune 2 also shows a glimpse of fully-grown Alia Atreides in a dream sequence, played by Anya Taylor-Joy.

In Dune Messiah, Alia Atreides is essentially the primary antagonist, meaning Anya Taylor-Joy will have a major role in the film. Given that Timothée Chalamet is the franchise star and that Alia has barely been introduced, it’s more likely Paul will remain the focal point. Still, Alia will have a pivotal role to play in upcoming events, and it’s exciting to have another talented young star joining the ensemble.

6 Florence Pugh Will Have A More Significant Role In Dune 3

Florence Pugh’s Princess Irulan Will Be A Main Character In Dune 3

Like Zendaya in 2021’s Dune, Florence Pugh only had a minor role in Dune 2. Similarly, like Zendaya in Dune 2, Florence Pugh’s role will significantly increase in Dune 3. Florence Pugh was introduced in several scenes of Dune 2 as Princess Irulan Corrino, daughter of the Emperor. By the Dune 2 ending, her character is set to marry Paul Atreides, solidifying his ascendance as the Emperor.

As one of the main conspirators against Paul Atreides, Princess Irulan will serve primarily as an antagonist in Dune 3, though her arc is far more complicated and sympathetic than her father’s. Irulan is a highly competent, intelligent, and tactical woman, though her upbringing as the Emperor’s daughter and as a Bene Gesserit trainee puts her in a complicated position, often used as a pawn by the various forces. In Dune Messiah, she’s shunned by Paul, who still loves Chani, and is left to the side despite being his wife, leaving her to play her own hand.

5 Paul Atreides Will Delve Further Into Darkness

Dune 3 Will See Paul Atreides Commit Some Of His Worst Acts

While 2021’s Dune established Paul Atreides as the main protagonist and hero, the recent sequel proved the character far more complicated. At the end of Dune 2, Paul Atreides declares a Holy War against the Known Universe to establish his rule. Paul’s war will occur within the 12-year time span between films and will claim the lives of sixty-one billion people, including entire planets, religions, and more.

With that in mind, Paul Atreides will be an exceedingly complex protagonist in Dune 3. Upon the release of the original Dune novel, author Frank Herbert felt readers had misunderstood Paul as a hero, so he wrote Dune Messiah to clarify his intent: that Paul was an antihero or a villain. Dune 3 should embrace this further, seeing Paul committing some of the most heinous acts of his life.

4 Jason Momoa Will Return As Duncan Idaho (Sort Of)

Jason Momoa’s Character, Duncan Idaho, Returns In Dune Messiah

Jason Momoa lent his charisma and combat skills to the first Dune film, playing the loyal swordmaster Duncan Idaho. Near the film’s end, Duncan gives his life to help Paul and Lady Jessica escape. However, as previously mentioned, with the involvement of the Tleilaxu, Duncan returns in Dune Messiah as a “ghola,” or a genetic re-creation of his former self.

Of course, the version of Duncan Idaho in Dune Messiah isn’t entirely Duncan Idaho. He’s a recreation sent to kill Paul, but instead, he falls in love with Alia, forming a bond with the young Atreides sister. The Duncan Idaho ghola won’t precisely be the same character from the first film, as he realistically isn’t the same person. Duncan’s ghola goes by the name Hayt and is a Mentat, meaning his personality is quite different initially.

3 The Paul Atreides Arc Will End

The Dune Franchise Will Likely Carry On, But Denis Villeneuve’s Arc Ends As A Trilogy

Given that the HBO series Dune: Prophecy is in the works, Warner Bros. likely won’t be letting up its exploration of Frank Herbert’s world any time soon. Of Frank Herbert’s direct novels, Denis Villeneuve is only planning to cover the material of two out of the six, given that Paul’s arc ends with Dune Messiah. It will be a bittersweet chapter to conclude, but endings can make for fantastic cinema.

Consider movies like The Dark Knight Rises or Return of the Jedi, which debatably aren’t the most prolific or well-received in their respective trilogies yet end with emotional send-offs. Dune 3 may not have the explosive, epic war scale of Dune 2, but it could still be the most emotionally contrived in the series, given the journey audiences and characters have experienced. The franchise’s future is uncertain afterward, but Dune 3 will close the first chapter.

2 Dune 3 Could Be One Of Timothée Chalamet’s Greatest Performances

Timothée Chalamet Is An Extremely Talented Young Star, And Dune 3 Could See Some Of His Best Work

Timothée Chalamet’s performance in Dune embodied the Paul Atreides many had imagined reading Frank Herbert’s novel, but his performance in Dune 2 far surpassed any expectation. He is a phenomenal actor, proven by films like Call Me By Your Name, but he hasn’t solidified his stardom as clearly as he has in recent months with Wonka and the Dune sequel, demonstrating an impressive versatility in box office hits. Dune 3 could be his greatest role yet.

Dune Messiah pushes Paul Atreides into one of his most complex situations yet, and it will take an excellent performance from Chalamet to pull it off. Paul is a character who constantly teeters on the edge between sympathetic and dangerous, and the third film will need to embrace that nuance through acting. Audiences love complex characters with shades of gray, and Chalamet’s performance in Dune 3 could be one of the most exciting to analyze yet, especially given the overall trilogy arc.

1 Dune 3 Can Expand Into The Brian Herbert Novels

There’s More To The Dune Universe Than Frank Herbert’s 6 Novels, Arguably

While Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films have thus far remained primarily within the bounds of Frank Herbert’s world, there’s a ton of narrative material for writers and filmmakers to draw from. Brian Herbert, Frank Herbert’s son, has co-written a plethora of Dune novels with writer Kevin J. Anderson. While they aren’t as well-received as the originals, they offer a particular utility that could be useful for the film series.

The expanded Dune novels provide details for the happenings in between Frank Herbert’s original stories, including explaining the whereabouts of Dune 2 characters who aren’t in Dune Messiah. Léa Seydoux notably plays Lady Margot Fenring in Dune 2, a character who never appears again in Frank Herbert’s series. To avoid her unexplained disappearance, the substance of the expanded novels can be used to provide clarity. The same goes for Rebecca Ferguson’s iconic Lady Jessica, who isn’t in Dune Messiah at all, but could appear in the Dune 3 movie.