"Dune 3" Aims to Shoot This Year

Denis Villeneuve is aiming to shoot the third installment of his hit Dune franchise this year.

The team is in pre-production and has been prepping for a while behind the scenes to try to get things ready for a summer start. 

While June is too early but summer is the aim, providing key elements fall into place (talent avails, etc), according to multiple well-placed sources.

"Dune: Part Two", starring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, made more than $700M at the global box office after release last year. 

Both Dune and Dune: Part Two also earned Best Picture Oscar nominations. 

The third installment will see Villeneuve complete the trilogy by adapting Frank Herbert’s sequel novel, Dune Messiah, the completion of Paul Atreides’ story.

In the novel, Paul “Muad’Dib” Atreides has ruled as Emperor for 12 years. By accepting the role of messiah to the Fremen, he has unleashed a jihad which has conquered most of the known universe but is powerless to stop the lethal excesses of the religious juggernaut he has created. 

The title of the third entry hasn’t been set.

A mid-late summer start would presumably free up Zendaya, whose upcoming slate is pretty busy between Christopher Nolan’s new movie "The Odyssey", "Euphoria" season 3, and Marvel’s fourth Spider-Man movie.

There’s no word yet on shooting locations but both previous movies shot large parts in Origo Studios, Hungary, Jordan, and Abu Dhabi.

The movie hasn’t been dated for release by Warner Bros/Legendary. However, it was reported last summer that the studio was holding a December 2026 slot for a "Denis Villeneuve Event Film". 

In "Dune: Part Two", Paul Atreides unites with 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 universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future.