Draft:Dune: Messiah (2026 film)

• Comment: Draft:Untitled Dune: Part Two sequel is far better developed and referenced, and a final decision on the title apparently hasn't been made yet. The poster is also clearly marked as fan-made. Wikishovel (talk) 10:23, 29 November 2024 (UTC)

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Dune: Messiah
Directed by	Denis Villeneuve
Written by	Denis Villeneuve
Story by	Frank Herbert
Based on	Dune Messiah by; frank herbert
Starring	Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem, Anya Taylor-Joy
Cinematography	Greig Fraser
Edited by	Joe Walker
Music by	Hans Zimmer
Production company	Warner Bros.
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date	December 18, 2026
Language	English

Dune: Messiah (Or Dune: Part three depending on the writer's decision) is an American upcoming science fiction action film written and directed by Denis Villeneuve. It is adapted from Dune Messiah and it is the direct sequel to Dune: Part Two. It is scheduled to release on December 18, 2026.

It follows Muad’dib, the offspring of an Empire and the heir to unimaginable authority, fulfilling the scheme of ages in the creation of a super creature – a god among humans – on planet rather than in the firmament.

release

Dune: Messiah is set to release on December 18, 2026. In october, Denis Villeneuve told Deadline Hollywood that he was "in the writing zone" on Dune: Messiah, which it will likely be called, but if not will be called Dune: Part Three. Which according to Denis Villeneuve will "finish the Paul Atreides arc."

After the box-office blockbuster that was Dune: Part Two, which is currently streaming in the US on Max, Legendary has officially confirmed that Denis Villeneuve will be returning for a third installment.

Villeneuve, who had hinted at this plan since the first film, will complete his Dune trilogy by adapting Frank Herbert's sequel novel, Dune Messiah.

casting

Although the cast for Dune: Messiah hasn’t been officially announced, we can reasonably predict several returns based on the novel’s characters:

• Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides

• Zendaya as Chani

• Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan

• Charlotte Rampling as Gaius Helen Mohiam

• Javier Bardem as Stilgar

• Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia Atreides

Chalamet's return is pretty much guaranteed, with the actor inking a major deal with Warner Bros back in March 26, 2024. The multi-year deal allows him to work with other studios but gives Warner Bros the first option on anything new.

While Pugh's role in Part Two was minor, Villeneuve has said Princess Irulan will feature much more heavily in the next: "I introduced Chani in Dune and then she becomes one of the main characters in Part Two. I do the same here with Florence, I just introduce her in Part Two, and if there's a Dune Messiah she becomes one of the main characters."

Villeneuve has also spoken about his eagerness to work with Taylor-Joy again alongside Pugh in the third film. "I would love to make Dune Messiah just to work with her and Florence more," he told EW: "Those actresses are so inspiring. They give me chills and the will to do another one."

With Part Three confirmed, we can expect to see a great deal more from Pugh and Taylor-Joy. Taylor-Joy herself has let slip that she'll be back, and Bardem has confirmed he'll be appearing, saying in Variety in November of 2024 that he'd be "very angry" if Stilgar is not featured in the third movie: "I adore him. Whatever he wants, and whatever he decides, it will be fine for me. Absolutely. He's one of a kind," Bardem concluded.

While characters such as Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin), and Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken) are only named in Dune Messiah, there's every chance Villeneuve may find a way to include them. Ferguson, for one, is raring to go, saying: "As long as my character doesn’t go and sit somewhere hot and covered in fabrics, I’m happy."

Stephen McKinley Henderson, who didn’t reprise his role as Thufir Hawat in the sequel, could potentially appear, though his character isn’t in Dune Messiah. Tim Blake Nelson, whose role was cut from Part Two—rumored to be Count Fenring—might also make an appearance.

Meanwhile, the role of Léa Seydoux as Lady Margot was minor in Dune: Part Two, but isn't featured in the book Dune Messiah. That doesn't preclude her from returning, given how Villeneuve has adapted the source material in very creative ways so far.