Acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve has confirmed that his break from behind the camera is over and that he will soon return to begin shooting the third film in the Dune series. In an interview with Deadline, the filmmaker revealed when filming for Dune 3 would commence.
According to Villeneuve, the schedule for the new film, Dune: Messiah, has changed slightly. The filming will start later than initially expected, and the director himself explained the reasons behind the delay. Here are the details…
Dune: Messiah Could Be Delayed by a Year
Filming for Dune 3 was originally scheduled to begin in 2025. However, Denis Villeneuve announced that production will now start in 2026. One of the key reasons for this delay is Zendaya’s busy schedule, as she is occupied with filming Euphoria and Spider-Man 4.
Initially, Dune: Messiah was not supposed to be Villeneuve’s next film, but he has since changed his mind and now wants to complete the Dune trilogy first. The director stated that he is currently working on the script and finalizing the casting.
Warner Bros. had already planned for a Denis Villeneuve film, yet to be named, to release on December 18, 2026. It was likely to be Dune 3, but now the release date has been pushed to 2027.
Filming for Dune: Messiah will begin in 2026, and the movie is expected to hit theaters by 2027 at the earliest. More details about the cast and script are expected to emerge in the coming weeks.
What do you think about the Dune series? What are your expectations for the new film?