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This post contains spoilers for the "Dune" saga.

In Denis Villeneuve's "Dune: Part Two," Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) telepathically communicates with her fetus, Alia, who, along with her, is transformed after being exposed to the Water of Life. As a fetus, Alia is strangely in tune with Jessica's plans regarding her son, Paul (Timothée Chalamet), as she actively urges her mother towards a distinct path. In one of Paul's many visions, we get a glimpse of a grown-up Alia (Anya Taylor-Joy), whose presence is set up to be monumental in the tense, bloodstained chapters to come. Notably, though, the same character is fleshed out differently in David Lynch's "Dune." There, Alia (Alicia Witt) is a book-accurate superpowered toddler who yeets Baron Harkonnen (Kenneth McMillan) across Arrakis with the sheer power of her mind.

While Villeneuve has been closely following Frank Herbert's "Dune" book series for the most part,...

Frank Herbert, the author of the epic Dunebook series, had done years of research before he started writing his first novel. Herbert had a deep love for life, knowledge, and philosophical analysis. His endless curiosity and thirst for understanding the human mind and its perception laid the foundation for a book series that revolutionized the science fiction genre. His first Dune novel, published in 1965, won the prestigious Nebula award and gained recognition in science fiction circles.

Frank Herbert wrote over 20 books throughout his career, but it was the Dune series that solidified his commercial success. Herbert initially planned only one novel when he started, which was supposed to document a hero’s journey with a not-so-happy ending. However, due to its massive expansion, this initial idea turned into three books: Dune, Dune Messiah, and Children of Dune. One of the key ingredients is the concept of artificial intelligence vs. the human mind,...

The world of epic and operatic sci-fi fantasy has been redefined since Denis Villeneuve stepped into the arena. Unlike Zack Snyder with his Dceu fiasco, the director has inarguably and ubiquitously revolutionized the genre with his artisanal feature films like Arrival, Dune, and Blade Runner 2049.

Dune: Part One [Credit: Warner Bros.]

Now, with Dune: Part Two being hailed as one of the greatest sequels and sci-fi films of all time, Villeneuve’s trilogy is inching toward an end with the highly-anticipated Dune: Messiah. However, while the audience awaits for a successor to be named after Villeneuve steps away from the franchise, others claim there is already a perfect candidate for taking on the mantle of Dune 4.

Dune franchise finds itself a new directorial candidate Dune: Part Two [Credit: Warner Bros.]

Denis Villeneuve‘s vision for the Dune franchise has always been painted in grand and complex cinematography. The evocative storytelling combined with his...

The Dune franchise, helmed by acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve, has been a huge success for Warner Bros., and while a third movie is now in the works, the studio is unlikely to want this particular IP cash cow to end. With this in mind, a new rumor claims that a director is being sought for Dune 4. And it’s a filmmaker well-known for big franchises...and even bigger monsters.

According to insider Daniel Richtman, Godzilla director Gareth Edwards is now the top choice for Dune 4, with Villeneuve having previously revealed that the third installment, Dune: Messiah, will be his final trip to Arrakis. Currently, this is just a rumor, so take it with a Godzilla-sized pinch of salt, but Edwards has become known for stepping into major franchises thanks to the likes of Godzilla, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and this year’s Jurassic World Rebirth. So, while...

The first two Dune movies, starring Timothée Chalamet as space messiah Paul Atreides, were giant hits. Much of the thanks should go to director Denis Villeneuve, who is a long-time fan of the Dune books by Frank Herbert and a visionary director behind fantastic sci-fi movies like Arrival and Blade Runner 2049. Dune has been adapted for the screen before, but something about Villeneuve's movies hit different. It's the perfect project for him.

Frank Herbert wrote six Dune books before he passed away. Villenueve's first two Dune movies cover only the first novel. This year, he'll start filming Dune: Part Three, an adaptation of Dune Messiah, the second novel in Herbert's series. There are some good books after that, but Villeneuve has made clear that he's done with the franchise after Dune: Part Three.

But I don't think Warner Bros. Discovery will be done. The third book in the franchise,...

Dune: Messiah is expected to be the last Dune movie directed by Denis Villeneuve. With plans to continue the franchise beyond Messiah, Warner Bros. and Legendary will need a new filmmaker to take the reigns and the studio reportedly already has somebody in mind for the job.

According to trusted scooper Daniel Richtman (via X), Gareth Edwards is being considered to direct Dune 4, which is expected to be an adaptation of Frank Herbert's third Dune novel, 1976's Children of Dune. Edwards is perhaps best known for directing the Star Wars spinoff Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), which remains one of the more well-received entries in the sci-fi franchise since Disney acquired Lucasfilm. Edwards also directed the first installment in the MonsterVerse, Godzilla (2014), a sci-fi monster franchise also produced by Legendary. His other directorial credits include Monsters (2010), The Creator (2023), and the upcoming Jurassic World Rebirth (2025).

RelatedDune Stars Timothée Chalamet...

Dune and Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve has stated that he has no intention of helming any more movies in the franchise after his planned Dune: Messiah adaptation, but that doesn't mean Warner Bros. will stop after three!

According to scooper Daniel Richtman, the studio is planning to move forward with at least one more Dune movie, and they might be looking at Gareth Edwards to take the helm.

The scooper believes that there's interest in Edwards - who also has Jurassic World Rebirth coming out later this year - stepping in to direct, but isn't sure if he's actually in talks.

The first two movies were big successes, but a fourth chapter would still be somewhat surprising given the direction Frank Herbert's saga goes in after the second book. Villeneuve has shown little interest in adapting the later novels, Children of Dune and God Emperor of Dune,...

With Denis Villeneuve set to depart after Dune: Messiah, a new report is claiming that Warner Bros wants Gareth Edwards for Dune 4.

Denis Villeneuve is set to exit the Dune series of movies following Dune: Messiah, the upcoming third and final entry in his trilogy of adaptations of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novels. What was unclear was what would happen to the franchise afterwards. Studio logic dictates that a series that has breached a billion dollars at the global box office in just two films must become a franchise, but Dune has always felt somewhat different. It’s clearly the work of an auteur filmmaker, making it almost impossible to keep spitting out films in the same fashion. Villeneuve’s style is simply inimitable.

Like a sand worm about to erupt from a desert, however, the signs have been visible for some time. Tie-in video games, a spin-off TV show (Dune: Prophecy) and now,...

This post contains spoilers for the "Dune" book series.

In Denis Villneuve's "Dune: Part Two," Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) undergoes a startling transformation. As soon as she ingests the mysterious Water of Life, Jessica uses her status as the new Reverend Mother to legitimize the Bene Gesserit propaganda of the destiny-altering Kwisatz Haderach. She casts her son Paul (Timothée Chalamet) as a messiah figure, which the Fremen interpret as the Lisan al Gaib of their messianic prophecies. Jessica's transformation is the turning point in Villeneuve's sequel, as her once-sincere intentions twist into deceit and extremism, which she uses as fuel to help Paul reshape Arrakis.

While Villeneuve's "Dune" series is yet to complete Jessica's arc in this sweeping saga, even this nuanced on-screen portrayal only paints half a picture. Frank Herbert's "Dune" opens with Lady Jessica waking 15-year-old Paul for the fateful Gom Jabbar trial that will determine whether he is worthy,...

Frank Herbert's "Dune" is one of the biggest and most influential sci-fi books of all time. It has inspired everything from Hayao Miyazaki's "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" to "Star Wars," and so much more.

Though the "Dune" book series is full of fascinating, bizarre, influential ideas, the first book in particular remains a masterclass in telling a simple story that nevertheless contains a wealth of lore and world-building. It's a lived-in and fleshed-out universe where you get a sense of history, politics, characters, and plots moving independently of the main story. The story of Paul Atreides may also appear simple at first: a coming of age tale about a teenage boy finding his destiny and becoming a leader. For movie fans who have only seen the messy yet ambitious David Lynch version, you might think Paul is a clean-cut Campbellian hero who avenged his father...

Quick LinksMuab'Dib's Crusade Destroyed BillionsThe Tragic Events of Dune: Messiah and Children of DuneLeto II and The Golden PathPrescience Initially Hindered The Golden PathWhat's the Purpose of the Golden Path?Will the Golden Path Be In the Dune Movies?

This article contains spoilers for Dune, Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, and God Emperor of Dune.

Dune has always been a cornerstone of classic sci-fi, particularly when it comes to the series' themes and concepts. Author Frank Herbert's six-book series follows the Atreides family and the planet Arrakis, which created many tropes that future sci-fi works would use. However, it was about more than interstellar wars in the far future. Dune was a treatise on human nature and the dangers of charismatic leaders and had a strong message about how humanity and ecology intertwined. Herbert's books are often casually brilliant and many of their themes remain true decades after they were written.

Denis Villeneuve's Dune films have ignited a fresh interest in the venerable franchise and have lots of science fiction fans eager for the upcoming part three of his planned trilogy. While the director has made clear that he will end his work in the Dune universe after three movies, he's also voiced his support for other filmmakers carrying the story forward after him. One novel, however, is likely to give prospective writers and directors particular trouble and could prove nearly impossible to adapt.

As Dune Part 1 and Dune Part 2 covered the first novel in the franchise, and the next movie will adapt the second, Dune Messiah, there will be plenty of stories left to explore in future films. After Dune Messiah, there are still four more books in the series by the original author, Fank Herbert, and two more by his son, Brian Herbert, and Kevin J. Anderson finishing the story.

One book, two movies, and the third installment from parts of the second book of Frank Herbert's interstellar opus are on the way. Fortunately, for the fans who have poured $1.122B into Warner Bros.' and Legendary's coffers, Denis Villeneuve thinks we haven't seen anything yet.

Critical acclaim. Fandom frenzy. Box-office dominance. An impressive array of award nominations sprinkled with some major wins. In an exclusive report with Deadline last October, Villeneuve has "announced" it is time for his "deep" navigation of Herbert's second of six books, Dune: Messiah. This will be the focus of Denis Villeneuve's last of "his" trilogy.

The crux of Dune: Messiah is a conspiracy from within. That's all we're saying here. Needless to say, 2026 can't get here fast enough. As for production time, Villeneuve told Deadline that he's "[going] back behind the camera faster than I think." When he finally gets there, what can we expect?...

This post contains spoilers for the Frank Herbert-written "Dune" books.

The "Dune" book series, which extends far past where the currently planned movie trilogy expects to end, veers off into strange territory. There are major cast shake-ups, significant shifts in thematic focus, and massive time jumps. By the time you get to the fourth book, "God Emperor of Dune," nearly every character in the first book has been dead for almost 3,500 years. By the time you get to the fifth book, "Heretics of Dune," nearly every character in the fourth book has also been dead for about 1,500 years. 

Despite all those shifts and changes, author Frank Hebert still gave the series a few constants to hold onto. The first was Duncan Idaho (Jason Momoa in the movies), the only character to exist in all six books, albeit in clone form. The second and most important constant, however, was the idea of the Golden Path.

The Dune franchise is without a doubt one of the most pivotal pieces of fictional work within the last century. It is a foundational addition to the sci-fi genre, akin to how Tolkien's Lord of the Rings became the standard for many other fantasy series. As any fan of Dune can confirm though, the series is massive, and its plot doesn't revolve solely around the exploits of Paul Atreides, though he does have a lasting legacy within the lore of the world. That being said, the story does span several thousand years past the rise of House Atreides. So this leads to an interesting question: With Dune getting a sequel, just how many other movies will follow that?

There are several books in the franchise, not including all the spin-offs that have been made to further elaborate on the universe's history. So, when considering how many Dune movies might get made,...

The first two "Dune" novels, which are currently two-thirds of the way through being adapted into a movie trilogy, are often seen as a tragic condemnation of hero worship. Paul Atreides (played by Timothée Chalamet in the recent films) starts off likeable, but by the time he becomes emperor of the universe the reader/viewer should already be wondering if he's fit for the job. This whole jihad/holy war he's doing sure gives us the ick, especially in "Dune: Messiah" when Book Paul casually mentions how his regime has killed far more people than Hitler ever did. I for one believe that killing sixty billion people is wrong, and you can quote me on that.

But the "Dune" series wouldn't be that interesting if Paul was a straightforward bad guy, which is why the common claim that "Dune" is a clear-cut critique of the savior narrative misses the mark.

We may be spending a lot more time on Arrakis in the coming years. According to a rumor circulating the internet, Warner Bros. Discovery is considering more Dune movies and television shows to keep viewers hooked on the spice.

2024 was a big year for Dune, the sweeping science fiction franchise birthed by author Frank Herbert. On the movie front, Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. released Dune: Part Two, where visionary director Denis Villeneuve adapted the second half of Herbert's seminal 1965 novel for the big screen. On television, we got Dune: Prophecy, an HBO/Max spinoff prequel series set 10,000 years before the movies which depicted the rise of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood.

Both of these iterations of Dune were massively successful, enough that Warner Bros. is powering full steam ahead on more. Villeneuve is hard at work on a third Dune movie, which will adapt Herbert's book Dune Messiah; meanwhile,...

Dune: Messiah is expected to be Denis Villeneuve's final movie in the sci-fi franchise. However, a new report claims that Warner Bros. is already preparing to continue the series beyond Messiah on both the big and small screen.

According to trusted scooper Daniel Richtman (via X), Warner Bros. is reportedly already talking about a "new show and a fourth movie" in the Dune universe. While Villeneuve has repeatedly stated that his forthcoming adaptation of Frank Herbert's 1969 novel Dune: Messiah would be his final entry in the franchise, he has also shared that he hopes the franchise will continue under Warner Bros. and Legendary. During his lifetime, Herbert released six Dune novels, leaving WB with four left to adapt, following Messiah: Children of Dune (1976), God Emperor of Dune (1981), Heretics of Dune (1984), and Chapterhouse: Dune (1985).

Related Dune: Prophecy's Future at HBO Revealed Days Ahead of Finale

The prequel series to...

Dune and Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve has stated that he has no intention of helming any more movies in the franchise after his planned Dune: Messiah adaptation, but that doesn't mean Warner Bros. will stop making them!

According to scooper Daniel Richtman (and backed up by a report from World of Reel), the studio is planning to move forward with at least one more Dune movie and a second TV series.

HBO's Dune: Prophecy was not as acclaimed as the films, but it reportedly did pretty well from a viewership standpoint.

The first two movies were big successes, but a fourth chapter would still be somewhat surprising given the direction Frank Herbert's saga goes in after the second book. Villeneuve has shown little interest in adapting the later novels, Children of Dune and God Emperor of Dune, as he feels the story starts to become too "esoteric.

There's quite a bit of similarity between Frank Herbert's "Dune" series and the "Star Wars" franchise created by George Lucas. Both draw from writer and literature professor Joseph Campbell's idea of "The Hero's Journey" from his book "The Hero with a Thousand Faces," both feature "chosen one" narratives, both have giant toothy worm monsters that live in the desert, and both have lots and lots of sand. Desert planets play a big role in both "Star Wars" and "Dune," and they also contain something the franchises seem to share: spice. 

In both "Star Wars" and "Dune," there is a substance called spice, but are they the same thing? Let's take a deeper look at the spice melange of "Dune" and the illicit substances collectively called spice in "Star Wars" to determine the differences once and for all. 

Read more: The 104 Best Sci-Fi Movies Ever

Dune's Spice Melange, Explained

Of the two franchises,...

In the world of moviemaking, one often hears the phrase, "Show, don't tell." A story is best conveyed through imagery and action, rather than through speeches that tell the audience what to think. Denis Villeneuve may have been thinking of this golden rule when he recently expressed regret that Dune: Part 2 turned out to be much "talkier" than he would have preferred. The critically acclaimed blockbuster based on Frank Herbert's sci-fi epic is nothing if not spectacular, but would it have been even better with fewer words?

In a recent Variety interview, the director of FX extravaganzas like Arrival and Blade Runner 2049 wondered whether he should have leaned even more into visual storytelling with his Dune adaptations. Frank Herbert's famously long, dense first novel seems to demand a similarly wordy film adaptation, and Denis Villeneuve's co-written screenplay is not overlong considering the scale of Dune: Part 2. Still,...

In 1965, Frank Herbert delivered an epic tale of families at war for spice, sandworms, and planets as far away from Earth as space travel will allow -- one that would go on to be adapted into one of the best sci-fi movies ever, "Dune." But how does Earth even figure into the broader "Dune' narrative, huh? What's a civilization gotta do to get involved in the intense knife-chipping affairs of the Atreides and the Harkonenns? Sure, Arrakis is cool and Geidi Prime might have its bellowing hype-men for sending soldiers off to war, but again, what about our own tiny blue dot in the universe? Is it even still around when "Dune" takes place? What gives, Herbert? Why can't Earth get it on the action?

Well, it turns out that our little speck in space does, in fact, get a mention in the reign of Paul Atreides. However, it...

Quick Links Dune Is Bigger Than Ever In the 2020s Star Wars Has Been Floundering in the 2020s Dune's Adult Tone Is Actually an Advantage

The Dune franchise began decades ago with the publication of the first Frank Herbert novel, and it has since gotten more popular than ever. This is due to the recent Denis Villeneuve Dune movie adaptations and the new Dune: Prophecy TV series that acts as a prequel to them. The result is that the brand has seemingly reached its zenith of popularity, but one franchise that it inspired is going in the opposite direction.

Star Wars was one of many franchises inspired by Dune, and it became the top name in science fiction movies and media. Unfortunately, it's seen a mixed-at-best set of years, and this has seen it begin to dwindle in popularity among fans and mainstream audiences. Ironically, its more family-friendly nature...

Denis Villeneuve's Dune movies are two of the most popular box office hits of the past few years. His films have managed to completely re-imagine what a Dune adaptation could look like on screen, being considered some of the best sci-fi cinema in history. Considering how popular the Dune novels were throughout the '60s, '70s and '80s, it's about time someone brought the right vision to the source material. A big part of the franchise's recent success is due to the writing and performances on top of Villeneuve's grand scope for the films. The audience has been able to gravitate toward Paul Atreides as a protagonist and root for him throughout the events of the first film. This also made his turn to darkness in the second film much more powerful, forcing audiences to be shaken by the path he goes down.

It is the...

This past Sunday, HBO aired the premiere episode of Dune: Prophecy, a new Dune prequel show set some 10,000 years before the birth of Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet in Denis Villeneuve's new Dune movies. The show introduces us to an emperor (Mark Strong) trying to hold onto his power as ambitious vassels try to move in. We meet members of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood, a shadowy group of women who advise the lords of these great houses while manipulating them for their own ends. Many viewers have taken this in and come to one conclusion: Dune: Prophecy is a lot like Game of Thrones.

I've seen this comparison made everywhere in the press. Esquire bemoans that it's not quite the "sci-fi Game of Thrones we hoped for." TheWrap feels the opposite, saying it's "like Game of Thrones in space." IndieWire says it "worms its way onto Game of Thrones turf.

Spoilers are ahead for the Dune franchise and books.A classic sci-fi epic, Frank Herbert's 1965 Dune novel launched a beloved multimedia franchise, but how does Dune end? Most recently, the original book was adapted into a two-part film saga by Denis Villeneuve. With the filmmaker's Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two chronicling Paul Atreides' (Timothe Chalamet) rise to power, the upcoming Dune: Part Three aims to show the newly minted Emperor's downfall. Set 12 years after the ending of Dune 2, the third Dune movie will adapt Herbert's sequel, Dune Messiah.

2024 was the year of Dune for other reasons. In addition to the $711.8 million blockbuster Dune: Part Two, the franchise is releasing a prequel series, Dune: Prophecy. Set roughly 10,000 years before the events of Paul's story, the prequel spin-off will depict the formation of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood as well as the early days of the long-reigning Corrino Empire...

Quentin Tarantino said he's not watching Dune: Part Two because it's a remake of a film adaptation. Director Denis Villeneuve dismissed the comment with a blunt correction.

Director Denis Villeneuve said Quentin Tarantino missed the mark with his Dune: Part Two criticism. Tarantino recently asserted he can't comment on the film because he doesn't watch remakes. "I don't care," Villeneuve told the Montreal Gazette. "It's true. I agree with him that I don't like this idea of recycling and bringing back old ideas. But where I disagree is that what I did was not a remake. It's an adaptation of the book. I see this as an original." However, Villeneuve said that his colleague's perspective was also valid and warranted. "But we are very different human beings," he added.

Related Denis Villeneuve's Dune Movies Are Missing an Important Character From the Books

Dune: Part Two cuts out scenes involving a major character,...

Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two won deserved popular and critical acclaim, but for all the sequel's success a subtle change from the book's story proved that Villeneuve's version of the story must come to an end after the next installment. In many ways, Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two have been faithful retellings of Frank Herbert's magnum opus. The novel's message of the dangers of blind faith was masterfully delivered, alongside impressive visual spectacle. And yet, while many features remained the same in the two movies, some story details were necessarily altered.

One of the biggest differences between Dune the novel and Dune the two-part cinematic experience concerns characterization. While many of the same figures feature in both versions of the story, the ways they are presented creates a radically different impression. The best example of this is Paul Atreides' sister, Alia. While she plays an...

It seems Denis Villeneuve is ready to get sand-traumatized again. With awards season bearing down upon us, there's a strong chance the filmmaker will be spending the next several months gathering accolades left and right for "Dune: Part Two." Despite releasing in the first quarter of the year, Villeneuve's "Dune" sequel remains one of the most critically-acclaimed films of 2024 and is practically assured to be in the running for several Oscar categories at the 2025 Academy Awards ceremony. Not that Villeneuve is waiting around; he's currently got several irons in the fire, including a movie adaptation of author Annie Jacobsen's nonfiction book "Nuclear War: A Scenario" (via The Hollywood Reporter) and, oh right, "Dune 3."

The filmmaker's third trip to Arrakis is expected to adapt the second entry in Frank Herbert's original "Dune" novel sextet, 1969's "Dune Messiah," and only "Messiah". While it shouldn't be quite as monumental an...

Denis Villeneuves Dune movies have been some of the most popular sci-fi films in recent memory, but the director only has plans for three scheduled entries in the franchise. Few details are known about Dune: Messiah, but Villeneuve has claimed that it will most likely be his final involvement in this franchise - yet its unlikely that Warner Brothers will let such a prosperous franchise die out so easily. This will leave room for another director to take over the reins once Villeneuve has finished.

Although the filmmaker only has plans for three movies, several other books exist beyond Dune: Messiah. Frank Herbert originally wrote six novels in the Dune series, but with the help of official add-ons and stories written by his son, Brian Herbert, the number now reaches higher than 20. To have Dune: Messiah as the final on-screen adaptation would be a huge disappointment that ignores some of...

Denis Villeneuve has confirmed that he doesnt want to make any more Dune movies after Dune 3, but he could be making the same mistake Christopher Nolan made with his Batman trilogy. With Dune: Part Two earlier this year, Villeneuve completed his adaptation of Frank Herberts original opus. Since it was a big enough box office hit to keep the Dune train going, Villeneuve has been fending questions about a third Dune film. Hes often teased that he would follow up his two-part Dune adaptation with an adaptation of Herberts first sequel, Dune Messiah.

Villeneuve has lined up his next project at Warner Bros. with a release date of December 18, 2026. Since the details of the movie (even its title) are being kept under wraps, its been rumored that this is Dune 3. Villeneuve has yet to confirm whether or not Dune 3 will be his next movie, but he has said that if...

When it was first announced that Anya Taylor-Joy had a cameo in "Dune: Part Two," no further information was provided. Fans remained none the wiser about who the "Queen's Gambit" star was playing or how big her role would be. Then, the movie arrived and what this strange "Dune: Part Two" cameo actually meant remained somewhat of a mystery for those not following too closely or who hadn't read Frank Herbert's "Dune" novels.

During her uncredited cameo, which lasts less than a minute in a film that runs for a full 167 of them, Taylor-Joy is seen traversing the desert in one of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet)'s visions. She then turns towards camera as her voice is heard saying, "You are not prepared for what is to come. You'll now learn the truth about our family, and it will hurt you to the core. Paul, don't worry, I'm with you.

An update about Dune 3 confirms that Warner Bros. has plans to expand the franchise into a cinematic universe just before the new prequel series begins. After the enormous critical and commercial success of 2024's Dune 2, production on Dune 3 has been confirmed sooner than anyone expected. This will bring the events of Frank Herbert's sequel novel, Dune Messiah, to life on the big screen, with much of the cast reprising their roles. With this book being adapted, questions have been raised about the franchise's future.

The prequel series Dune: Prophecy will air on HBO in November 2024, showing the world 10,000 years before the events of the films. Given Warner Bros.'s recent desire to expand many of their marquee titles, such as DC or Harry Potter, into multimedia franchises, it's no surprise that the world of Dune is being explored in television. The show is only the first step in...

Denis Villeneuve's last two feature films were 2021's "Dune" and 2024's "Dune: Part Two," collectively an adaptation of Frank Herbert's celebrated 1965 sci-fi epic set in the distant, distant future. Villeneuve's "Dune" films removed a lot of the eerie mysticism of Herbert's works, focusing instead on the book's sociopolitical underpinnings. They told a story of how religions are deliberately wielded by cynical political power-seekers to topple existing regimes, and how those regimes can, in turn, be manipulated by different shady religious zealots. The main character of the film was Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), a young prince who escaped assassination, fled into the deserts of the planet Arrakis, took solace among the remote desert-dwelling people, and -- thanks to the machinations of his mother -- became the desert's Messiah. He then returned to overthrow the killer Harkonnen family.

All of this, it should be noted, was to gain control of Arrakis,...

2024's Speak No Evil boasts an incredible cast for the American remake of the 2022 Danish movie. The film centers around a family as they spend a holiday weekend with another family, but the time for relaxation and activities takes an unexpected turn as the host family's true selves are revealed. The interest in watching Speak No Evil comes from writer/director James Watkins and the movie gaining plenty of attention thanks to it marking James McAvoy's return to horror after his memorable performance in M. Night Shyamalan's 2016 movie Split.

The original 2022 Speak No Evil proved to be an excellent showcase for the talents of its cast members, with Morten Burian, Sidsel Siem Koch, Fedja van Hut, and Karina Smulders receiving praise for their work. That is why the American remake made with Blumhouse became a project that could attract some high-level talent. The end result is Speak No Evil...

Villeneuve's Dune adaptations captivate audiences, focusing on Dune and Dune Messiah without delving into Children of Dune. Denis Villeneuve sees Dune Messiah as the final film in his trilogy, aiming to wrap up Paul's arc and the Dune series. Despite Villeneuve's future departure, the Dune universe remains open for potential new directors seeking to maintain quality adaptations.

Denis Villeneuve achieved the impossible with Dune and Dune: Part Two. He managed to adapt Frank Herbert's renowned sci-fi novel of the same name and capture the essence of Herbert's meticulous storytelling. Villeneuve brought Herbert's vision to the big screen and built a concise plot for audiences to understand the lore of Dune and the more complex concepts of the novel. Despite the initial skepticism from audiences and critics when it was announced that Villeneuve would tackle this classic novel, the visionary director created a cinematic masterpiece that's defined the 2020s,...

Get ready for an onslaught of "Dune" material now that Hollywood has recognized there's quite an audience for author Frank Herbert's revered sci-fi saga. Not only do we have the upcoming Max series "Dune: Prophecy," the trailer for which reveals several sacrifices will be made, but we'll also see the return of Timothée Chalamet's Paul Atreides in a third movie from sci-fi maestro Denis Villeneuve.

After "Dune: Part Two" proved massively popular at a time when the box office wasn't exactly at its peak, you better believe Legendary Pictures decided to keep the spice flowing with a third "Dune" movie. The next installment in Villeneuve's epic saga looks likely to be an adaptation of the second novel in Herbert's original run, with Villeneuve previously revealing his eagerness to adapt "Dune Messiah." At this point, the man can basically do no wrong, having proven Herbert's supposedly "unfilmable...

The Streaming Wars are over and there is a clear winner — surprise, surprise, it's Netflix. Joining the pile of companies reconsidering this whole streaming thing is Apple TV+, which is now vowing to stop throwing so much money at shows no one watches. Apple TV+ is watched and used about as much as U2's "Songs of Innocence" was listened to when it got released on iTunes for free, with Bloomberg reporting that Apple TV+ "generates less viewing in one month than Netflix does in one day."

When every studio and company began launching its own streaming service, there was an outcry over the return of cable but worse, which is something no one liked and is the reason so many of us flooded to Netflix in the first place. However, the overabundance of streamers also came with the opportunity for variety and specialization. Just as Hulu had long been...

Lady Jessica will not appear in HBO's Dune: Prophecy, as the prequel series is set 10,000 years before the events of the Dune movies. The show centers on the origins of the secretive Bene Gesserit order and their influence on the universe over millennia. Rebecca Ferguson's Lady Jessica could potentially return in Dune 3, especially if Denis Villenueve pulls from Dune Messiah and Children of Dune.

HBO's Dune: Prophecy has fans of the storied Dune franchise wondering if Rebecca Ferguson's Lady Jessica will appear in the series, which centers on the Bene Gesserit. Notably, Ferguson has received wide-spread acclaim for her portrayal of Paul Atreides' (Timothe Chalamet) mother in Denis Villeneuve's films, Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two. In the former, Lady Jessica is introduced as Duke Leto Atreides' (Oscar Isaac) concubine and a member of the powerful Bene Gesserit order a social, religious, and political force that trains...

A third "Dune" movie is in the works from Legendary and director Denis Villeneuve, but it may be a while until it reaches audiences: The Hollywood Reporter recently shared the news that his next film is due in theaters December 2026, and it may not even be a "Dune" sequel. Cinema fans should get excited for any new project from the filmmaker who's also brought us movies like "Blade Runner 2049" and "Arrival," but sci-fi fans understandably can't wait to see the director return to the world of Arrakis.

When Villeneuve's "Dune: Messiah" adaptation does appear, it'll follow a tricky chapter in Frank Herbert's book series. As /Film's Michael Boyle pointed out in a piece written after the third film's announcement, "Dune: Messiah" sidelines one of the franchise's most important characters, Rebecca Ferguson's now-villainous Lady Jessica. "Although Jessica was arguably the co-protagonist of the first book, she spends...

Denis Villeneuve wants to leave Dune after the third movie, which ignores the other four Dune books. Timothe Chalamet and other major stars may follow Villeneuve's exit from the franchise. Dune 3 may not follow the book's ending, but Villeneuve's vision offers a sense of closure.

So far, Dune director Denis Villeneuve has done justice to the story of Paul Atreides, yet his plans for Dune 3 hint that Paul's story may never reach its real conclusion, and that's fine. In 2024, Villeneuve released Dune: Part Two to incredible acclaim. The excitement surrounding the movie, along with its amazing reception, proves that the franchise is on the right track. Dune 3, when it arrives, will certainly be another massive movie event. However, it may not be the ending that readers of Frank Herbert's Dune books were expecting.

The Dune movies have more or less stayed faithful to Frank Herbert's books, but changes are inevitable.

Quick Links Denis Villeneuve Wants a Dune Trilogy Children of Dune Begins a New Story Leaving the Door Open for Other Filmmakers Denis Villeneuve aims to complete a Dune trilogy as he adapts Dune Messiah as a third film. Children of Dune, the third book, offers a new story arc with Leto II as the central character, diverging from the trajectory of Paul Atreides. Villeneuve's departure after the third film opens the door for new filmmakers to continue the Dune saga in a meaningful and respectful way.

With 2021s Dune and 2024s Dune: Part Two, Denis Villeneuve has done what was once thought impossible. He has delivered a quality adaptation of Frank Herberts classic sci-fi novel that brings the best aspects of the story to life and builds upon Herberts ideas to present them in a more coherent cinematic fashion. With his two-part film adaptation of Dune, Villeneuve has...

This article contains dune spoilers for across the saga.

Even the most casual Dune fan knows that, at some point, there’s a giant worm boy. Since its first printing in 1981, Frank Herbert’s fourth book in the franchise, God Emperor of Dune, has proudly displayed a human/sandworm hybrid on its cover. Dune fans know that hybrid as Leto II, the son of Paul Atreides and Chani, who melds with a sandworm and becomes an all-powerful tyrant. Leto II is also one of the most fantastic elements of the Dune franchise, a series already filled with images wonderful and bizarre. God Emperor of Dune also isn’t part of Denis Villeneuve‘s planned series of films based on the first three Herbert books.

To the faithful, the idea of introducing sandworm Leto during the events of Dune Messiah is as painful as anything endured in the Gom Jabbar. But...

Denis Villeneuve's Dune films set a new standard for sci-fi adaptations, unmatched in quality this decade. Dune: Prophecy is a prequel series based on Brian Herbert's novel that explores the origins of the Bene Gesserit. Warner Bros. is expanding the Dune franchise with Dune: Prophecy, testing the waters for further adaptations and spin-offs.

So far, there has been no new sci-fi series this decade that has been able to match the quality of Denis Villeneuves two Dune films. Described by many as a cross between Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, and Game of Thrones, Villeneuves Dune has provided a blockbuster cinematic event that has to be experienced to be believed. The classic Dune novel, written by Frank Herbert, was first published in 1965 and has been adapted on several occasions over the years. First, there was the failed attempt by experimental director Alejandro Jodorowsky to bring it to life in the 1970s.

This article contains spoilers for "Dune: Part Two."

Denis Villeneuve's "Dune: Part Two" takes a few departures from Frank Herbert's original novel, perhaps most notably in the omission of Alia Atreides. Alia is Paul's young sister, born while he and his mother Jessica had survived the Harkonnen massacre and were hiding out with the desert-dwelling Fremen. In the book, Alia grows to toddlerhood supernaturally fast and already possesses a spate of eerie Bene Gesserit mental powers. She's also the one who, as a toddler, knifed the evil Baron Harkonnen to death.

Villeneuve figured that shooting in the desert with a toddler would be difficult and uncomfortable for a young actor, so he transformed Alia into a more abstract character. Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) now has psychic conversations with the still-growing fetus inside her womb, while Paul (Timothée Chalamet) has a dreamlike vision of an adult Alia, seemingly contacting him from the future.

Dune: Part Three may not be the best conclusion to Paul's complicated story. There's too much ground to cover in a two-hour runtime, making a TV miniseries better suited for the next chapter. A Dune miniseries would capture the sequels better than Dune 3 by focusing on the legacy of Paul Atreides' children.

While Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two sets up the highly anticipated Dune: Part Three, another film may not be the best way to conclude the epic saga. In fact, Dune 3 won't serve the franchise as well as a Dune miniseries that tackles the fall of Paul Atreides (Timothe Chalamet) and the rise of his children, Leto II and Ghanima. In Dune 2's ending, Paul liberates Arrakis, but his actions come at a huge cost one that he tried to avoid. The Fremen, who are so inspired by their messiah figure, begin a bloody holy war in Paul's name.

This article contains likely spoilers for Dune: Part Three as well as the books Dune Messiah and Children of Dune.

You are not prepared for what is to come. These are the words of promise, or prophecy, in Anya Taylor-Joy’s lone scene in Dune: Part Two. Whether the sequence is a kind of psychic chat room occurring between Paul “Muad’Dib” Atreides (Timothée Chalemet) and his unborn sister, Alia, or an actual vision of a conversation they will have in the future is obscure. Either way, the meeting seems otherworldly, not least of all because Paul and Alia are conversing on a beach. On Arrakis.

“Paul, you are not prepared for what is to come,” Alia warns. “You’ll now learn the truth about our family, and it will hurt you to the core.”

Alia is not unkind in her warning. There appears to be a deep reservoir of...

Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from Dune Messiah and Children of Dune.

Paul learns to ride sandworms in Dune: Part Two. Paul and Chani's son — Leto II Atreides — becomes a sandworm in Children of Dune. James McAvoy stars as Leto II Atreides in the 2003 miniseries Frank Herbert's Children of Dune.

One of the best (and most unusual) parts of the Dune franchise is when Paul Atreides (played by Timothée Chalamet in Denis Villeneuve's movies) learns how to ride sandworms on Arrakis — but Paul's Shai-Hulud expeditions aren't the weirdest things that an Atreides does with sandworms. Dune and Dune: Part Two are based on Frank Herbert's 1965 book of the same name, as Villeneuve split the story in half. Sandworms play a significant role in the narrative in all the works, even the sequel Dune Messiah, which serves as the basis for the upcoming film Dune: Part Three.

For decades, Frank Herbert's "Dune" was considered unadaptable, but despite many attempts, we finally got the definitive adaptation of the author's groundbreaking sci-fi novel with Denis Villeneuve's "Dune: Part Two." Villeneuve's "sequel" is a grand sci-fi epic, a dark film about the dangers of populist leaders, and a film with giant spectacle — and plenty of giant worms. As our own Chris Evangelista put it in his review, "Dune: Part Two" is "one of the bleakest blockbusters ever made."

The film takes place immediately after the events of "Dune: Part One" and follows Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he becomes part of the Fremen on the planet Arrakis, all the while wrestling with his role in the prophecy of the Lisan al Gaib and the destruction that would bring to the universe. It's already a huge hit and will continue to make bank at the box office in the immediate future,...

It's been over a month since "Dune: Part Two" was released in theaters, and it's already a clear-cut success. The film's now passed the $600 million threshold at the box office and the reviews have been consistently positive; not since the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy has such a seemingly-unadaptable book been so successfully adapted to the big screen. Already, "Dune: Part Three" has been confirmed to be in development, adapting the second book in the "Dune" series, "Dune: Messiah," and hopefully wrapping up director Denis Villeneuve's planned trilogy in a nice, satisfying bow.

Already, however, there are a few challenges ahead for the Villeneuve. The first is that "Messiah" begins 12 years after the events of "Dune," which means they'll either have to delay the film a bit to let the actors age into the roles or put a lot of make-up on Timothèe Chalamet to sell the illusion that...