Summary
- The Dune trilogy will conclude with Dune: Messiah, ending rumors of a miniseries or part four.
- The 12-year gap might impact Paul and Chani's relationship and children's roles.
- Duncan Idaho returns as a ghola in Dune: Messiah, hinting at the series' exploration of cloning and its implications.
The Dune universe is getting a lot of attention now that big-name directors and triple-A gaming studios are bringing their talents to adapt the original books by Frank Herbert. Leading the charge are the movies directed by Denis Villeneuve, two of which have already been released to critical acclaim. The third movie in the series, Dune: Part Three, is expected to start filming this summer and is set for a December 2026 release date.
Dune: Awakening - 6 Changes The Story Makes To The Original Timeline
Dune: Awakening makes some pretty significant changes to the Dune timeline. These examples are the most prominent.
Several of the actors from Part 2 are returning to their roles, and rumors are still flying about other members of the cast. Robert Pattinson is apparently in talks to play the villain Scytale, but nothing has been confirmed. The production is moving ahead, and some details about Dune: Messiah have been released to the public.
6 The Trilogy Concludes
Despite Rumors To The Contrary
- No miniseries and no Part Four.
There's a lot of material in the Dune franchise that could still be adapted, including the larger body of work produced by Brian Herbert, Frank's son. This could explain why rumors initially circulated about another movie, or even two more, or a miniseries. Denis Villeneuve has confirmed, however, that he has settled on a trilogy that will end with Dune: Messiah.
However, given the fact that the Atreides twins will be a bit older, there might also be some material in Dune: Messiah taken from the next book in the series, Children of Dune. The fourth book tells the story of Ghanima and Leto as they resist the rule of their aunt, the tyrant Alia, which may be featured in the upcoming movie. It would be one way to explain how Alia, Leto the Second, and Ghanima can appear in the same story.
5 12 Years Later
Similar To The Books, But With A Twist
- The old power players are still at their game.
The refusal of the other Great Houses to recognize Paul Atreides' ascendancy at the end of Dune: Part 2 triggers a Holy War that puts the other families on the defensive, but aside from war, there are other ways to compete for the throne. The machinations of the Corinno family and the Bene Gesserit never rest. The real question is who they will be, how they will approach Paul, and why?
The 12-year gap might be problematic for other reasons, specifically, what Chani's role will be. In the books, she was present in the Imperial Court as Paul's concubine, but in the movies, she left at the end of Dune: Part 2. She might have gone south, presumably as a way of rejecting his claim to the throne, or maybe she was raising his children in isolation.
4 The Galactic Holy War
Paul's Vision Of The Golden Path
- The dynamic between Paul and Chani has changed.
The opening of Dune: Messiah takes place 12 years after the last movie ended, which is the same time gap between the books. However, given the ending of the second movie, in which Paul and Chani seem to be separated, it's unclear how their children, Princess Urualn, or the Imperial throne, will fit into the story.
6 Lore Facts You Should Know Before Playing Dune: Awakening
For those diving into Dune: Awakening for the first time, here are some interesting lore facts you need to know.
In the book, Paul remains dedicated to Chani as his concubine, despite being married to Irulan in name only, and their failure to produce an heir makes his rule more vulnerable. Irulan and her Bene Gesserit training, which includes drugging Chani into infertility, have something to do with this. Without Chani at court, the story is going to take a different turn, which has yet to be revealed.
3 Leto And Ghanima
The Twins Have Been Cast
- But a different story awaits them.
There has only been one previous instance of the Atreides twins appearing in a live-action adaptation, and that was in the Syfy series. Like Alia, they are also considered "pre-born" because of their exposure to spice while they were still in the womb. Thanks to a different connection to their Fremen ancestors and the fact that they were exposed to spice but not the refined Water of Life, they escaped the same grisly fate.
This time, Isa Brooke takes on the role of Ghanima, and Nakoa-Wolf Momoa, Jason's son, will be playing Leto the Second. It's a demanding role, because Leto begins humanity's journey down the Golden Path, which Paul also saw but deeply feared.
2 Duncan Idaho
Back From The Dead
- The gift of a ghola.
Herbert also explored the idea of cloning and its implications for the future of humanity. In Dune: Messiah, he introduced the concept of a ghola, which is something like a clone. They become more common in the future, but one of the early prototypes was Duncan Idaho. He was given the name Hayt and secretly assigned to assassinate Paul as part of an experiment to test his loyalty.
Dune 3: Things That Should Happen In The Movie Sequel
With confirmation of Dune Part 3 from director Denis Villeneuve, these the events from the Dune: Messiah book that should happen in the sequel.
In the books, the ghola of Duncan Idaho was given as a gift to Emperor Paul Atreides by Edric, a Spacing Guild Navigator, on behalf of a group called the Bene Tleilaxu. These were spies and assassins who evolved from a splinter group of the Bene Gesserit. Whether or not this group will appear in the film has yet to be confirmed, but to see some of their work beforehand, the Dune: Prophecy series includes a character who is also a shapechanger, or "face dancer."
1 Alia
The Abomination
- Will her fate be the same?
A surprise from the first Dune movie was the appearance of Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia, Paul's unborn sister, in a vision induced by the Water of Life. Viewers only see her for a few moments as she walks in a Fremen stillsuit over a sand dune to reveal a vast ocean.
Alia will appear in Dune: Messiah, which has been confirmed, but the nature of how is still unknown. Her exposure to the Water of Life while still in the womb has accelerated her aging process, so even if she were only 12, the character may appear as an adult in the movie. When the Bene Gesserit Mother at the end of Dune: Part 2 said the word "Abomination," she was referring to Alia, not Paul.
- Release Date
- December 18, 2026
- Director
- Denis Villeneuve
- Writers
- Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve, Frank Herbert
- Producers
- Mary Parent, Tanya Lapointe, Brian Herbert, Kim Herbert, Byron Merritt, Cale Boyter, David Minkowski, Denis Villeneuve, Ildikó Kemény, Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr.
- Prequel(s)
- Dune, Dune: Part Two
- Franchise(s)
- Dune
Cast
-
Timothée ChalametPaul Atreides -
Florence PughPrincess Irulan -
Anya Taylor-JoyAlia Atreides -
ZendayaChani
