Denis Villeneuve addresses why he returned to work on Dune 3 sooner than expected. Dune: Part Two was a critical and commercial hit, yet making the film and its predecessor was a difficult endeavor that required years to come to fruition. Villeneuve previously shared that he wanted to take a break before diving into writing Dune 3‘s story, which will adapt Frank Herbert’s Dune: Messiah novel, and continue the story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet).

While speaking with Collider, Villeneuve explained that he returned to write Dune 3 sooner than planned because of the overwhelmingly positive response to Dune: Part Two. He shared how he was “moved” by the way that audiences around the world reacted to Dune: Part Two, which inspired him and gave him a sense of responsibility to return to the story. Villeneuve also discussed how he is eager to explore the fallout of Chani (Zendaya) having her heart broken, along with the start of the Holy War. Check out his comments below:

Chani’s heart is broken, and it’s the beginning of the Holy War and that’s where we left, so in a way, I’d say it’s quite similar. I was expecting to do something else before, but frankly, that’s the inspiration that came to my mind as I took a break this summer and was going back and finishing the story. I was really moved by the way Part Two was received by cinephiles around the world, and I felt an appeтιтe and a desire to see more and a responsibility to finish that story.

What This Means For Dune 3

Production May Start In 2026

Villeneuve’s decision to already return to the world of Dune means that Dune 3‘s production may not be too far off. The acclaimed filmmaker is still in the process of writing, but he has previously mentioned 2026 as a tentative start date for production, although he has also clarified that nothing is set in stone, and that these movies take a considerable amount of time to make. Having confirmed that Dune 3 will take place 12 years after Dune: Part Two, just like in the source material, there are considerable narrative changes that need to be made.

Some of these narrative changes are related to Florence Pugh’s Dune character, Princess Irulan, who will have a far more prominent role than she did in the second movie. 12 years later, Paul, Chani, and Irulan will be at different stages in their lives, as will the universe that has been impacted by the Holy War. Accounting for the significant shifts that happened in the 12-year gap is important, although it cannot overtake the third movie’s story.

Our Take On Denis Villeneuve’s Comments

Dune 3 Will Be Worth The Wait

Regardless of how long it takes for Dune 3 to be made, the movie will be worth the wait. Dune: Part Two is a cinematic triumph that succeeds on every level. It is exciting that, less than a year later, Villeneuve is already hard at work on the next installment, which will be his last in the Dune universe. Living up to the heights of Dune: Part Two may be challenging, but Villeneuve is a filmmaker who is up to the task of masterfully writing and directing Dune 3 as he delivers another masterpiece.

Source: Collider