Whoever controls spice, controls the galaxy. Thankfully, we don’t need clairvoyance powers to have a better idea of when French-Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve will begin production on his third “Dune” movie, tentatively titled “Dune Messiah.” Veteran U.K. reporter Baz Bamigboye of Deadline claims he overheard at a pre-BAFTAs party during the weekend that “Dune Messiah” will begin shooting this summer, June specifically, and not in 2026 as previously suspected.
Of course, “Dune 3” is based on the Frank Herbert novel, “Dune Messiah,” will be his last directorial effort on the feature film front for the foreseeable future as follow-up books like “Children of Dune” will likely be handed off to other suitors to shoot. The overarching theme of the sci-fi fantasy franchise is to not blindly follow charismatic leaders or those who use religion to manipulate a population, even if they may sound like the hero of the story.
We shouldn’t be too shocked given recent statements made by Villeneuve that the cinephile reception to “Dune: Part Two” lit a fire in his belly to complete his trilogy of films sooner than he had originally planned. But Villeneuve failed to give us a window for that production to start.
It all but assumed that the call sheet for “Dune Messiah” will feature Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Florence Pugh, and Anya Taylor-Joy will also return to a larger role as Paul’s sister. There is also a summer/fall shoot expected for Marvel’s “Spider-Man 4” which could signal that Zendaya’s role in that MCU sequel might not be as large as originally thought or she could simply film her scenes later in the year.
Given this plausible, but unofficial, 2025 shoot, if everyone’s scheduling can be worked out, a release date in 2026 or 2027 for “Dune Messiah” sounds about right. Then again, Warners won’t likely wait too long to officially announce a date given the event pic will want to plant a flag soon before other studios gobble up prime spots.
This an update that certainly should make fans, who are waiting for more adventures on Arrakis excited, that wait is seemingly less far away than we previously thought.
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