Dune: Part Three is currently scheduled for release in December 2026, and the movie is almost certainly going to be Denis Villeneuve’s biggest challenge yet in adapting Frank Herbert’s beloved sci-fi novels. The film is based on the story of Dune Messiah, the second book in the literary series, which takes place many years after the original Dune and follows Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet on screen) during his reign as Emperor of the Known Universe.

As with Dune: Part Two, Villeneuve’s third movie will introduce a whole host of new characters that bring fresh, complex subplots into this sci-fi world. Beyond Dune Messiah‘s main protagonists of Paul, Chani (Zendaya), and Irulan (Florence Pugh), this sequel introduces a dangerous conspiracy of rogue agents who secretly plot to bring down the young Emperor. Chief among these rebels is Scytale, who, if reports are to be believed, may be played by Robert Pattinson.

Robert Pattinson Will Reportedly Play Scytale In Dune: Part Three

The Face Dancer Is Dune Messiah’s Biggest Anti-Hero

Although it hasn’t been officially confirmed that Pattinson will be playing Scytale in Dune: Part Three, it seems increasingly likely. The actor is reportedly being eyed for a “villainous” role in Denis Villeneuve’s sequel, and while there’s no shortage of characters that could be referring to, the enigmatic Face Dancer seems like the most obvious candidate.

Scytale is a new character in Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah, introduced as a powerful envoy of the Bene Tleilax who allies with the Bene Gesserit and the Spacing Guild to end Paul Atreides’ rule over the universe. He’s a very powerful opponent for the young emperor, and it’s from his perspective that much of the story is told in Herbert’s text.

Pattinson Would Actually Be Perfect For The Guild Navigator Instead

Edric Is One Of Dune’s Most Unique Characters

Although Pattinson’s Scytale would definitely be interesting, I’m more excited by the possibility that he could be playing Edric, the Guild Navigator who feeds information to Scytale and the Bene Gesserit to help them ᴀssᴀssinate Paul. Guild Navigators are among the most unusual and fantastical aspects of Herbert’s books, described as “fish-like” human mutants who live in large tanks filled with spice. Their environments give them unique abilities that allow them to see through time and space, much like Paul’s visions in the Dune movies.

Pattinson is a perfect candidate to bring something as strange and eccentric as the Guild Navigator to life. The actor has been on a trend of gravitating towards bold, unconventional performances in recent years, and a figure like Edric would fit neatly into that catalog. Whether it’s Mickey 17 or The Boy and the Heron, Robert Pattinson’s filmography is filled with loud performances that make him the ideal person to bring Edric to the screen.

I’m Apprehensive To See How Villeneuve Brings The Guild Navigator To Life

The Director Has Changed Some Major Aspects Of Herbert’s Novels

Although Villeneuve has typically done a great job of translating Herbert’s weird and wonderful ideas onto the big screen, the Guild Navigator is arguably going to be his biggest challenge yet. Not only do the creatures have a very distinct appearance that’s going to require lots of practical effects and CGI to get right, but they also stick out pretty sorely among the grounded, human politics of Dune Messiah.

VIlleneuve has already made some major changes to Dune that veer strongly from the source material, and this may be the route that the director is taking again with his third movie. It’s possible that he’ll omit the Guild Navigator altogether; Edric isn’t a crucial character to the story, and the knowledge that he brings to the conspiracy could easily be explained as Bene Gesserit intelligence. Dune Messiah is certainly going to be the most complicated of Herbert’s works to bring to life, but I have faith that Villeneuve knows what he’s doing.