Denis Villeneuve Reveals Heartfelt Reason for Dune 3’s Early Development

by

Despite being relatively new, Denis Villeneuve‘s Dune films have already earned a spot among the greatest science fiction movies ever made. The second installment garnered numerous Oscar nominations, although Villeneuve was surprisingly overlooked for Best Director. Recently, the renowned director shared the reason he agreed to work on the third film, Dune: Messiah, so quickly, and it’s understandable why.

Initially planning a pause on Arrakis, Villeneuve has unexpectedly started scripting Dune 3. The first two films, highly praised and available with a Max subscription, were followed by an open-ended conclusion in Dune 2, hinting at the arrival of Messiah. Speaking to Collider, the director of Arrival revealed that the audience’s reactions to the grim ending sparked his decision to delve deeper once more, as he himself expressed it.

Chani’s heart is shattered, marking the start of the Holy War. Previously, I had envisioned working on something else, but during my summer break, a particular inspiration struck me, leading me back to complete the narrative. The global response to Part Two left me deeply moved, sparking an urge and duty within me to continue and conclude that tale.

It appears quite persuasive. In the finale of “Dune 2”, Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides seems to forsake his principles for power. He accepts the role of Lisan al Gaib and orchestrates a coup to wed Florence Pugh’s Princess Irulan. Throughout these events, Zendaya’s character Chani expresses disapproval and disgust, eventually deciding to depart on a Sandworm.

For novices exploring Frank Herbert’s cosmos, this twist was quite thrilling, and it seems that Denis Villeneuve has been listening to fan demands for a follow-up film sooner rather than later. This enthusiasm prompted him to commence writing the script for Dune: Messiah, which he began shortly after his second sequel premiered in theaters last year.

For the upcoming third film in the Dune series, there are several key storylines to explore. One is the prophecy surrounding Paul, who’s expected to bring destruction as he ascends to power. Another intriguing character is Alia Atreides, portrayed by Anya Taylor-Joy, who communicated with her brother even before she was born. In the next film, Messiah, it will be fascinating to see how Alia’s role affects the family dynamics between her, Lady Jessica, and the rest of the Atreides family.

Currently, the specific release date for “Dune: Messiah” hasn’t been definitively set yet. Since director Denis Villeneuve is still working on the third installment, it’s unlikely we’ll see it pop up in the 2025 movie lineup. However, his enthusiasm suggests that production might be moving more swiftly than we think.

Read More

2025-02-17 16:07