Dune: Messiah Might Arrive Sooner Than Expected

Following the release of Dune: Part Two earlier this year, director Denis Villeneuve suggested that he might take an extended break from the franchise before returning for a third film based on Dune: Messiah. However, Villeneuve has changed his mind and he’s now looking to get back to the story on Arrakis as soon as possible.

“Let’s say that I thought that after Part Two that I will take a break, that I will go back in the woods and stay in the woods for a while to recover,” Villeneuve told Deadline. “But the woods weren’t really suiting me, and I would go back behind the camera faster than I think. But that’s all I can say.”

Earlier this year, Villeneuve lined up the rights to adapt Pulitzer Prize finalist Annie Jacobsen’s nonfiction book Nuclear War: A Scenario. The director has also hinted at other projects he had in the works besides Dune. If Dune: Messiah is starting sooner than expected, then the status of those films is currently unknown.

Villeneuve confirmed that he’s writing the script for Dune: Messiah, and that he doesn’t consider it to be Dune: Part Three. Instead, it’s a separate story based on the third novel in Frank Herbert’s sci-fi series.

“Like Herbert did with Dune: Messiah, I think it’ll be a great idea to do something completely different,” said Villeneuve. “The story takes place like 12 years after where we left the characters at the end of Part Two. Their journey, their story is different this time, and that’s why I always say that while it’s the same world, it’s a new film with new circumstances.”

The director was evasive when asked about a specific window for filming Dune: Messiah, but he indicated that he expects the major players to return including Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, and Anya Taylor-Joy, who had a surprise cameo in the second film.

“They have to return,” noted Villeneuve. “They are with the main cast when it happens. And more worms. What can I say?”

Dune: Messiah doesn’t have a release date yet, but the upcoming prequel series, Dune: Prophecy, will premiere on HBO and Max on November 17.