Read update
Director Denis Villeneuve will reportedly begin shootingDune 3a year earlier than expected, putting the highly-anticipated trilogy-capper on a faster track to theaters than was originally guessed. The huge success ofDune: Part Twomade it easier for Villeneuve to sell Warner Bros. on making a third film, as the directorseeks to complete the story of Paul Atreides withan adaptation of Frank Herbert’sDune Messiah, the second book in the author’s legendary sci-fi series.
Filming on the sure-to-be-epicDune: Part Threewas expected to begin in summer 2026, but according to a new report fromDeadline’s Baz Bamigboye,Villeneuve is now planning to roll cameras on the sequel in June 2025. Nothing has been confirmed at this time, but it was previously reported that Villeneuve’s next film had been slated for release on July 17, 2025, and speculation was that this next film would beDune 3, and not one of the three other projects the director is attached to.
UPDATE: 2025-07-12 14:27 EST BY RACHEL LABONTE
Dune 3 Filming Window Clarified
Since the publication of this story,Deadlinehas updated their report to specify that June 2025 is too early forDune 3to begin filming, but cameras are planning on rolling later this summer. No further date was given. The rest of the original story continues below.
What This Means For Dune: Part Three
It Has To Start Shooting This Year In Order To Make Its Reported Release Date
Summer 2026 was never a realistic windowfor shooting to begin onDune: Part Three, if indeed Villeneuve intends to have the movie finished in time to release on August 17, 2025. Shooting kicking off in June of this year makes that release date a more achievable goal, given the lengthy post-production and editing process involved on a film of this scale.
Villeneuve saysDune: Part Threewill be his lastDunefilm, but he hopes others will take on the task of adapting further books in Herbert’s series.
Villeneuve himself recently speculated toDeadlinethatDune: Part Threewould shoot starting in 2026, but also indicated that work was moving swiftly, and he might “go back behind the camera faster than I think.” The director also cautioned that “these movies take a lot of time to be made, so it’s best not to say out loud when I might shoot.” Villeneuve spoke too of not wanting to rush the process, soit can be assumed he’s not fast-trackingDune: Part Threeat the studio’s urging, but is ready to go in his own mind.
Our Take On Dune: Part Three Filming Sooner Than Expected
WB May Wish To Strike While The Iron Is Hot
Dune: Part Onecame out amid COVID and consequently posted a less-than-impressive worldwide box office tally of $407 million.Dune: Part Twoeasily bested that box office mark, however, grossing $714 million worldwide when it came out in 2024.Dune: Part Threewas quickly greenlit, as Legendary and WB sought to capitalize on their valuable IP while audiences are still eager for more.
GettingDune: Part Threeinto production as speedily as possible may satisfy the studio’s desire for haste. However, as Villeneuve himself has proclaimed,the creative process on something likeDuneshouldn’t be rushed. Getting the trilogy-capper into theaters fast, and having the film be underwhelming as a result of an accelerated production schedule, would be a very undesirable outcome.
Villeneuve likely wishes to take his time onDune 3, but that might not be in the cards, as the studio looks to strike while the iron is hot. If this latest report is correct,Dune: Part Three’s production is indeed moving faster than expected,putting the epiccontinuation of Paul Atreides’ sagaon track to reach theaters by Christmas 2026.
