Dune: Part Three, based on Frank Herbert’s second book Dune Messiah, is officially in development at Legendary Pictures.
This article is part of a directory: Dune: Part Three – Possible Title, Director Plans & Everything We Know
SUMMARY
- Dune: Part Three is confirmed to be in development after the success of Part Oneand Two .
- Denis Villeneuve aims to adapt Dune Messiah and has already begun writing the script.
- The news came alongside confirmation that Villeneuve will adapt Nuclear War: A Scenario.Dune: Part Three is confirmed to be in development at Legendary. Helmed by Denis Villeneuve, the first two Dune films were critically acclaimed upon release, and though Part One struggled at the box office because of a day-and-date streaming release and audiences weary of the pandemic, Part Two more than made up for it with a strong showing. As of the time of writing, it is the highest-grossing movie of 2023 with $630.2 million so far at the worldwide box office.
Now, Dune: Part Three is officially in the works, according to a new report from Deadline. In announcing Villeneuve’s next film, it was also revealed that Nuclear War: A Scenario would be made after he adapts Dune Messiah. Villeneuve already teased that work on a script had begun, and the director has long said that it was his goal to adapt the second novel in Frank Herbert’s sci-fi series.
The Next Steps For Dune: Part Three
Dune: Part Three Has A Ways To Go, But Is In A Positive Place
While it had seemed extremely likely that Villeneuve would get the chance to adapt Dune Messiah, it hasn’t been officially greenlit by Warner Bros. Villeneuve has been open about his desire to make three Dune movies in total since before Part One was released in 2021 and has already begun working on certain elements of Part Three. Lead star Timothée Chalamet even went so far as to tease a major Messiah plot point in an interview in 2023.
However, since the release of Dune: Part Two in early March, Villeneuve has been more cautious when discussing a potential third movie. He confirmed he is still working on the script, which he called “barely an embryo,” during Part Two‘s opening weekend, and later admitted he would only make the movie if “it’s going to be better than Part Two.” Considering the rapturous response Dune: Part Two received, this is an incredibly high bar, but Villeneuve’s track record already bodes well for Part Three‘s prospects.
Dune: Part Two holds a 93% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 95% audience score.
Dune: Part Three entering development isn’t outright confirmation that it has been greenlit, but it is an extremely positive first step. Most likely, Villeneuve’s next steps will be to finish the script and collaborate with his creative team to ensure they have the resources and ability to properly adapt it. It seems all but certain that Warner Bros. will eventually give Dune: Part Three the green light, seeing as the first two movies have been smash hits for the studio. If anything, the movie’s fate lies with Villeneuve and whether he feels confident in the material.
As the report mentions that Villeneuve’s Nuclear War adaptation would come after Dune: Part Three, it seems likely that the Messiah movie is a bigger priority for the filmmaker and Legendary. At the same time, Villeneuve has also suggested he’d like to make another movie before tackling another trip to Arrakis, so there is a good chance Dune: Part Three won’t arrive until 2027 at the earliest. Nevertheless, the project entering development confirms there’s genuine interest in making it happen, so the Dune franchise is in a very positive place.