In a move that has quietly flown under the radar, Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Three” is apparently being shot on film, including 15-perf 65mm (IMAX) and 5-perf 65mm formats.
The revelation comes via Kodak, who recently revealed the news. No doubt, the film’s DP, Linus Sandgren, a major advocate of film over digital, might have somewhat swayed Villeneuve here.
This marks a significant departure from the first two ‘Dune’ instalments, both of which were shot digitally. While those films had an epic visual scope and meticulous design, they were still very much products of the digital era. With ‘Part Three,’ it seems Villeneuve is doubling down on a more organic aesthetic to close out his sci-fi trilogy.
This also positions “Dune: Part Three” as part of a growing wave of big-budget productions returning to film. Christopher Nolan, Quentin Tarantino, and Greta Gerwig have all embraced 65mm formats in recent years, often with dazzling results at the box office and in awards season.
Greig Fraser, who was cinematographer on Villeneuve’s first two ‘Dune’ movies, is not returning for the third instalment. Fraser’s replacement will be the Oscar winning Sandgren whose most notable work can be seen in “La La Land,” and “No Time to Die.” He recently lensed Noah Baumbach’s “Jay Kelly” which is set for release later this fall.
Sandgren is widely known for his strong preference for shooting on film — particularly 35mm and 65mm formats — and he’s been very vocal about it. Sandgren once stated that film provides a “magic and emotion” that digital cannot replicate.
Principal photography on “Dune: Part Three” began in July 2025 in Budapest. The film is scheduled for release on December 18, 2026.
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