UPDATE: Denis Villeneuve will reportedly begin shooting ‘Dune: Messiah” earlier than expected, putting the highly anticipated trilogy-capper on the fast track to theaters. Deadline’s reporting indicates that Villeneuve is now planning to roll cameras on the sequel in June 2025.
THR is pushing back on initial reporting “Dune: Messiah” would only be shooting in 2026. Apparently, that’s not accurate at all.
Multiple sources tell THR that “Dune: Messiah” will start production next summer, which overlaps with “Spider-Man 4.” This leads me to believe that Zendaya’s role in ‘Spider-Man 4’ must be relatively small.
“Dune” Messiah” will be having “an extensive, multi-location, multi-month shoot.” The main actors on this third film will be Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh and Anya Taylor-Joy. No word yet on who is collaborating with Villeneuve on the screenplay.
You know what this all means? ‘Dune 3’ might be keeping its December 18th, 2026 release date after all. Villeneuve is currently working on the script and locking the cast. Don’t expect any other movie from him until he completes this trilogy.
It’ll be very interesting to see exactly how Villeneuve tackles “Dune: Messiah.” Frank Herbert’s source material is not as audience friendly as the first book. If Villeneuve sticks to the source material, it would be a very different film than the first two. Chalamet’s Paul Atreides, now a powerful dictator, would not be likable at all. The storytelling isn’t “blockbuster” material either — more solemn, less action. Good luck, Denis.
NOTE: Greig Fraser, who lensed the first two ‘Dune’ movies, will be replaced by Linus Sandgren (“La La Land”). Hans Zimmer is expected to score the film.