Why it will be a while before we see the third Dune movie - Dune: Messiah

Denis Villeneuve has basically confirmed that we will be getting a third Dune movie based on the novel Dune: Messiah.

The much-anticipated Dune arrived to commercial and critical success in 2021, with plans for a second film already confirmed before its release.

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It told the story of Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) whose family, the House Atreides, are thrust into a war for the deadly and inhospitable desert planet Arrakis.

Dune: Part One included the plot of around half of the epic novel written by Frank Herbert, while Part Two will focus on the second half. Frank Herbert continued the series with Messiah, and the assumption is that Villeneuve and the relevant cast will return for Part Three.

But,  the director plans on making another movie before Messiah after working back-to-back on parts one and two.

"Dune Messiah is being written right now. The screenplay is almost finished but it is not finished. It will take a little time…There’s a dream of making a third movie…it would make absolute sense to me," Villeneuve said at a Dune: Part Two press conference in South Korea,

“I don’t know exactly when I will go back to Arrakis. I might make a detour before just to go away from the sun. For my mental sanity I might do something in between, but my dream would be to go a last time on this planet that I love.”

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Dune: Part Two (2024)

Paul Atreides continues his mythical journey as he unites with Chani and the native inhabitants of Arrakis, the Freman. They are on a warpath for revenge against the conspirators who destroyed Paul's family. Faced with a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, Paul tries to avoid a terrible future that only he can foresee.

Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
Stars: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya and Rebecca Ferguson

Dune: Part Two

The first movie featured an ensemble cast that included Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Zendaya, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, David Dastmalchian, Chang Chen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem.

That already-impressive cast list has gotten even stronger for the sequel, with Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, Ley Seydoux and Austin Butler just a few of the new names along for the ride.

The official premise reads:

'This follow-up film will explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavours to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.'

It will be released in February of 2024.