Dune: Part 3 is confirmed to be an adaptation of Frank Herbert’s controversial novel “Dune Messiah”, which takes place many years after the explosive ending of Dune, with Paul Atreides ruling over the entire universe with Princess Irulan at his side. The story explores Emperor Paul’s leadership and those who wish to bring him down, taking the reader on a complex journey of conspiracy and betrayal within the Atreides court. The book was met with mixed reception upon release because of how drastically different it was from the original “Dune”, but it’s been reevaluated in recent years.

Incidentally, Denis Villeneuve has also claimed that his adaptation of “Dune Messiah” will be the final movie he directs in this franchise. This means it’s almost certain we’ll never see Villeneuve’s “Children of Dune” or “Chapterhouse Dune”, but it doesn’t mean these projects won’t get made at all. The franchise could definitely continue without Villeneuve, although it would be a huge risk. The director has confirmed that Dune: Part 3 will sow the seeds for future sequels, which could mean incorporating elements from some other Herbert novels.

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune 3 Won’t Cover The Children Of Dune Book

The Third Dune Book Has Some Brilliant Storytelling

“Children of Dune” is one of the most bizarre and esoteric books in Herbert’s series, but it’s also the most ambitious in terms of storytelling and worldbuilding. The narrative really leans into the complex sci-fi concepts of Herbert’s universe, touching on themes such as religious cultism, political martyrdom, and generational trauma in ways that previous novels don’t quite reach. Still, it gets there through extremely complicated, technical concepts that can be off-putting for those who aren’t fully interested in science fiction.

The story itself, as the тιтle suggests, primarily follows Paul’s children: Leto Atreides II and Ghanima Atreides. This shift in perspective is the main reason that many readers often stop at “Dune Messiah”, as it’s seen as the conclusion of Paul’s character arc. But there’s plenty of interesting material in the later sequels, including the return of Lady Jessica, a much larger role for Alia Atreides, and sweeping arcs that span across several decades. Plus, we can’t forget the truly bizarre development of Paul’s son becoming a sandworm hybrid.

There’s Still Plenty To Be Excited About With Dune 3 Based On Messiah Details

Herbert’s First Sequel Features Some Of His Most Thematic Writing

However, Villeneuve ending with “Dune Messiah” doesn’t have to be a bad thing. There’s so many fascinating twists and turns in this story: Dune: Part 3 will bring back some major characters, introduce several new roles as both heroes and villains, and expand the lore of this universe through expansive history lessons and brand-new cultures. It’s a very fitting continuation of Dune’s story, and there’s a very clear arc that’s already been set up by the subtle changes that Villeneuve made to the ending of Dune: Part 2.