Dune: Part II is premiering in cities all over the world this week, so will there be a Dune 3? And how many sequels are planned? We’ve got the details below.
Frank Herbert’s epic 1965 novelDunewas always going too much for one movie, as David Lynch discovered when struggling to adapt the material in 1984.
How many Dune movies will there be?
There is likely to be three Dune movies directed by Denis Villeneuve. Then the director will leave the franchise, meaning that any future spinoffs or sequels will be made by someone else.
His cast is definitely on board. Timothée Chalamet toldTotal Film: “The idea excites me very much. If the time and opportunity comes to complete the story with Messiah, I think we’re all super enthusiastic about that.”
While Zendaya says in the above video: “Would we be down? I mean of course. Any time Denis calls it’s a yes from me. I’m excited to see what happens. I started Messiah and I was like, ‘Woah, I’m only shooting the first movie. Let me just go back to the first one.’ It’s so much to take in, but there’s no better hands with better care and love for it than Denis.”
In the aforementioned press conference, Villeneuve isn’t sure when he might make Dune: Part III, stating: “I don’t know exactly when I will go back to Arrakis. I might make a detour before just to go away from the sun. For my mental sanity, I might do something in between, but my dream would be to go a last time on this planet that I love.”
But while there are more Frank Herbert books to adapt – five Dune tomes in total – Villeneuve says the threequel will be his last, tellingTime: “Dune Messiah should be the last Dune movie for me.”
Chris Tilly is the TV & Movies Editor at Dexerto. He has a BA in English Literature, an MA in Newspaper Journalism, and over the last 20 years, he’s worked for the likes of Time Out, IGN, and Fandom. Chris loves Star Wars, Marvel, DC, sci-fi, and especially horror, while he knows maybe too much about Alan Partridge. You can email him here: chris.tilly@dexerto.com.
