Dune Part 3: Release date and cast theories for Dune Messiah adaptation

But that has turned out not to be the case, and production on Dune Messiah is now reportedly slated to begin later this year – with Timothée Chalamet set to return as Paul Atreides for an adaptation of Frank Herbert's second novel.

"I was expecting to do something else before, but frankly, that's the inspiration that came to my mind as I took a break this summer and was going back and finishing the story," Villeneuve explained during a Q&A at February's Saturn Awards.

He added: "I was really moved by the way Part Two was received by cinephiles around the world, and I felt an appetite and a desire to see more and a responsibility to finish that story."

Meanwhile, recent rumours have suggested that another big name could be set to join the already star-studded cast of the franchise – with Robert Pattinson being eyed up for a villain role in the film, although nothing has been confirmed at this stage.

So, what will happen in Dune Part 3? When can we expect it to arrive in cinemas? And who else will be joining Chalamet in the cast? Read on for everything we know so far.

Dune Part 3 release date

The film is currently slated to arrive in cinemas on Friday 18th December 2026 – although it's still possible that could change between now and then.

Dune 3 was confirmed to be in development with director Denis Villeneuve attached to return fairly soon after the release of Dune: Part Two, and production is set to get under way this summer, reportedly in June – so barring any issues it seems fairly promising that the film will keep to the above date.

Villeneuve had repeatedly made clear his intention to adapt Dune Messiah and complete what he sees as a film trilogy, even suggesting during an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com that he had deliberately sowed the seeds for the next film when writing Dune: Part Two.

"Which is very fun, by the way," he explained. "To make – like Herbert did when he was writing his book – myself like the main character, Paul, to make projections in the future and try to foresee what could be done and to create the foundations of ideas that could find their full potential in the future."

Meanwhile, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Villeneuve is clear that the adaptation of the second novel, Dune Messiah, will be his final entry into the franchise – although it's possible another director could come on board to helm further adaptations of Herbert's later novels.

Dune Part 3 cast: Who is joining Timothée Chalamet?

In the book Dune Messiah, there are fewer characters than in the first novel, so it appears likely that we will see a smaller cast for the next outing.

But we likely can nevertheless expect the following returning faces for Dune Messiah.

• Timothée Chalamet as Emperor Paul-Muad'Dib Atreides
• Zendaya as Chani
• Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan Corrino
• Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia Atreides
• Charlotte Rampling as Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam
• Jason Momoa as Hayt/Duncan Idaho
• Javier Bardem as Stilgar

After her fleeting cameo in Dune: Part Two, Taylor-Joy would have a much bigger role in the next film, while Villeneuve has also explained that Florence Pugh would have more to do as Princess Irulan next time out.

"I approached her saying to her that Irulan will have the same journey from Part Two to the next movie as Chani, from Part One to Part Two," he explained to RadioTimes.com.

"In Part One, we barely saw Chani - she was just, like, a ghost, a dream. She was introduced at the end of Part One, and then she became one of the main characters of Part Two, and it will be the same for Irulan.”

Meanwhile, one other actor who looks set to make a surprise return is Jason Momoa. His character Duncan Idaho was memorably killed off in the first film, but he returns as an undead creature called a Ghola in the book, so we'd expect the same to be true in the film adaptation.

And Momoa seemingly confirmed his involvement in the film during a recent appearance on TODAY.

"I’m making a comeback," he said. "You heard it first, right here with you, baby."

He added: "Well, I’m not sure if I’m going to get in trouble or not, but it’s the same thing like Game of Thrones, you know what I mean? If you didn’t read the books, it’s not my fault, right? Yeah, there’s going to be… I’m going to be coming back."

Also, a further exciting casting report emerged in April 2025 suggesting that Robert Pattinson was being lined up for a major role in the film.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Pattinson is being eyed for the role of the chief villain – who many are assuming to be book character Scytale, a Bene Tleilaxu face-dancer – but no official offer has yet been made.

Other key characters from the novel Dune Messiah who would need to be cast include the mutated Spacing Guild Navigator named Edric, and more members of the Fremen followers of Muad'Dib, including the veteran warrior Otheym and the religious figure Korba.

And other surviving characters from Dune: Part Two could also make returns, despite not appearing in the book, include Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin), Lady Margot Fenring (Léa Seydoux), and Shaddam IV Corrino (Christopher Walken).

If any more casting news is announced, we'll post it right here.

What would the plot of a potential Dune Messiah film be?

Although Denis Villeneuve will likely make some changes from the book – as he has done in the first two films – it also seems likely that he will stay largely faithful to Herbert's text.

The second novel in Frank Herbert's series, Dune Messiah, picks up 12 years after the end of the original novel, with Emperor Paul-Muad'Dib now the ruler of the Known Universe and the Fremen's holy war in his name having wiped out 10s of billions of lives across galaxies.

Despite his dislike of the worship at the feet of himself and his sister Alia, Paul is powerless to end the bloodshed and is aware that this is one of the better outcomes for humanity.

• Read More: What happens in the second Dune novel, Dune Messiah? Spoilers for book series

However, Paul can sense dark forces at work – and he's not wrong to.

A new conspiracy emerges among disaffected Fremen, the Spacing Guild, the nefarious scientific force of the Bene Tleilaxu, the Bene Gesserit, and Paul's unhappy consort, Princess Irulan Corrino.

Will Paul's prescient abilities protect him from their scheming or are he, his sister, and his beloved Chani destined for tragedy?

Read more:

• Dune: Part Two ending explained – What happened to Paul and Chani?
• Dune: Part Two review – A spectacular return to Arrakis
• What happened in Dune: Part One? Recap for the first Denis Villeneuve film in franchise
• How is Dune: Part Two different from the book? Book changes explained
• Which characters are missing in Dune: Part Two?
• Stellan Skarsgård says reading Dune was “useless” for his Baron Harkonnen portrayal
• Dune director on casting Austin Butler: ‘I needed a playboy – a rockstar’
• Dune: Part Two cast – Full list of actors and characters in sequel
• What is the age rating for Dune: Part Two? Age suitability explained
• How to watch Dune: Part One on DVD, Blu-ray and streaming
• How to read all the Dune books in order

Dune Messiah is currently slated to arrive in cinemas on 18th December 2026.

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