Denis Villeneuve is closing out his Dune adaptations as a trilogy with Dune: Part Three. Most people thought this was the sensible option. It brings the story of Paul Atreides to a definite close, without needing to take audiences to the weird places of the later novels, including mutated sandworm-human rulers.
To tell the story, it still needs to be darker, and to introduce concepts that normo audiences might struggle with. In an interview with Javier Bardem, returning as Fremen leader, now raging Jihad warrior Stilgar, it has been revealed that this third movie may move beyond Frank Herbert’s second novel.
Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, he gave more details:
“It’s going to be a masterpiece. Because Denis (Villeneuve) really wants to go farther and farther from the last movie. It’s like what he did with the second movie compared to the first one.
Those who have read the book know the ‘Messiah’ book, but it goes beyond that. It’s going to be a feast. It’s going to be something extraordinary.”
Villeneuve has hinted that he will be a bit looser with this adaptation this time around, as the story was notable in the book for being action-lite compared to the first book. Moving beyond the timeframe of the second book would clarify why teenagers Nakoa-Wolf Momoa and Ida Brooke have been cast as Paul’s teenage children, despite only featuring as babies in the book.
Dune: Part Three opens on December 18th, on the same day as Avengers: Doomsday.
Dune: Part Three is currently said to be over 3 hours long, about the same as the latest Marvel juggernaut. Use some crackerjack timing (Wang!) to drop your kids off for Avengers and go watch Dune.
