Director Denis Villeneuve, who brought Frank Herbert’s legendary science fiction series Dune to the big screen, has moved one step closer to completing his trilogy by moving on to the next books in the series.

Dune Date Announced for Dune 3

Officially announced last year and filming began in July, Dune 3 wrapped filming this week. This development makes the new Dune film ready for its 2026 release date.

With this long-awaited news, the film’s release date has also been confirmed. Dune 3 will be released on December 18, 2026. When the new Dune film was first announced, it was initially titled Dune: Messiah.

However, recent reports indicate that the film will instead be titled Dune 3 or Dune: Part 3. The main reason for this name change is that Denis Villeneuve will not be limited to just the second book in the series, Dune: Messiah, as he completes the trilogy. The director will incorporate key elements from the third book, Children of Dune, into the film’s narrative.

The adaptation, Dune: Messiah, takes place approximately twelve years after the events of the first book, with Paul Atreides now reigning as Emperor. While it is unknown how faithful the director will be to the novel, it is known that Dune 3, like the novel it is based on, will feature a significant time jump.

The film stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Jason Momoa, and Anya Taylor-Joy, who return from their previous roles. Robert Pattinson is the most notable new addition to the cast in the third film.