Denis Villeneuve has confirmed that Dune: Messiah will be his final film for the franchise – see what the acclaimed director had to say below.
Speaking to Vanity Fair for a new interview, the filmmaker – who led 2021’s Dune and this year’s Dune: Part Two – revealed that his time on Arrakis will come to an end with the franchise’s third film, Dune: Messiah.
However, the director’s also said that despite Messiah being his third film, it’s not to be considered a trilogy, as Dune and Dune: Part Two made up the first book in the series, and Messiah will be a sequel – effectively rendering it two entries across three films.
Timothée Chalamet return as Paul Atreides in ‘Dune: Part Two’. CREDIT: Warner Bros.
Villeneuve said to Vanity Fair: “It was really a pair of movies that will be the adaptation of the first book. That’s done and that’s finished. If I do a third one, which is in the writing process, it’s not like a trilogy. It’s strange to say that, but if I go back there, it’s to do something that feels different and has its own identity.”
In April this year, following the release of Dune: Part Two, it was confirmed that Messiah will move ahead with Villeneuve, though a release date has yet to be announced.
Villenueve also revealed in his chat that should Messiah come to fruition, he’s happy to hand over the franchise to another filmmaker: “Listen, if Dune: Messiah happens, it will have been many years for me on Arrakis, and I would love to do something else. I think that it would be a good idea for me to make sure that, in Messiah, there are the seeds in the project if someone wants to do something else afterwards, because they are beautiful books. They are more difficult to adapt. They become more and more esoteric. It’s a bit more tricky to adapt, but I’m not closing the door. I will not do it myself, but it could happen with someone else.”
Zendaya plays Fremen warrior Chani. CREDIT: Warner Bros.
As for the complicated time-jump involved between Dune: Part Two and Dune: Messiah, Villeneuve’s got that figured out: “I know how to do that”.
In a four-star review of Dune: Part Two, NME wrote: “As with the first movie, Part Two proves a pulse-poundingly immersive experience, courtesy of cinematographer Greig Fraser’s stunning visuals, production designer Patrice Vermette’s wildly imaginative sets and some inspired sound design work. This is particularly evident during the film’s exciting central set piece, when Paul has to prove himself by riding a giant sandworm, a punch-the-air moment that was teased in the first part and pays off wonderfully here.”
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