A report has emerged that a third Dune film will begin filming this year, with pre-production aiming for a late summer start.
Denis Villeneuve adapted the first of Frank Herbert’s science fiction novels, splitting the story into two films about the rise of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), who is thrust into a war for the deadly and inhospitable desert planet Arrakis.
While the first part centred on his survival of a coup on his family, the second saw him become the spiritual leader of Arrakis’ desert tribes, known as The Fremen.
Released in 2021, Dune was a hit at the box office and with critics, winning six Oscars and making $407.7million worldwide. Last year, its sequel, Dune: Part Two, was equally well-received, making $714.4million and being nominated in five categories at the Academy Awards on March 2, including Best Picture.
Villeneuve has expressed interest in making a third film based on Dune Messiah, the second novel in the series, saying that the film would serve as a conclusion to the trilogy.
According to a report by Deadline, talent availability is a key factor in the decision to film later in the summer, with star Zendaya particularly busy filming Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey, Spider-man 4, and a third season of Euphoria.
No official confirmation of filming or release date has come from studios Warner Bros and Legendary, who declined to comment on the report.
In the book Dune Messiah, Paul Atreides has been firmly established as the leader for the Fremen, known as Muad’Dib, for some years. As his power grows, he struggles to control the ferver of the religious beliefs behind his reign, as well as threats from outside figures.
Recently, Chalamet spoke about the similarities between his performance as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown and the political message of Dune, saying both films warn to “be wary of cult-like figures”.
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