Dune: Part Three has not yet gone before cameras, but director Denis Villeneuve has already done something truly exciting that sets up the future of the franchise in subsequent films. Villeneuve has always wanted to make three Dune movies, telling the story of the first novel as well as Dune: Messiah. Messiah was originally conceived as a coda to the original novel, confronting the themes of the original story in a clearer way. This helped to better convey author Frank Herbert’s themes concerning the dangers of charismatic leadership.
The shape of the Dune franchise is still being revealed. Dune: Prophecy has secured a season 2, and both of Villeneuve’s films were critically acclaimed and found box office success. There are all kinds of spin-offs that could come from Dune, as the series is immense. While Herbert only wrote six Dune novels before his death, the series was picked up by his son Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, who expanded the world significantly with dozens of additional stories. While not as well-received as the original works, these novels contribute to an immense universe with incredible franchise potential.
Dune 3 Cast Paul Atreides & Chani’s Twin Children, Who Are The Franchise’s Future Leads
Leto II And Ghanima Are The тιтular Children Of Dune
Two new characters were just cast in Dune: Part Three, and they are tremendously important for the franchise. Nakoa-Wolf Momoa has been cast in the film as Leto II, and Ida Brooke has been added as Ghanima. These two characters go on to become the leads of the series in Children of Dune, the subsequent novel in the series. Leto II then becomes one of the main figures in the following novels, including God Emperor of Dune, which would make for a very unique cinematic experience.
The Dune franchise continues to grow, spawning many recent novels, comic books, LEGO sets, board games, and video games, including the brand-new MMO survival game Dune: Awakening.
While Leto II and Ghanima, the twin children of Paul and Chani, are only very young children in the Dune: Messiah novel, Momoa is 16, suggesting that the film will take some liberties with the story. With the characters aged up, it is likely that the seeds for their playing larger roles in Children of Dune are being planted. This combined story of Messiah and Children was previously seen in the Sci Fi Channel miniseries Children of Dune, where Leto II and Ghanima were played by James McAvoy and Jessica Brooks, respectively.
Dune 3’s Leto II & Ghanima Castings Give Dune 4’s Chances A Boost
Casting These Important Atreides Characters Sets Up For The Franchise’s Future
Dune: Part Three will be Villeneuve’s last in the franchise, but it appears that he is still setting up for the series to proceed beyond him. Adding the twins at this age, rather than as the babies they were in the Dune: Messiah novel, makes sense as a way for the story to logically progress into a Children of Dune movie. While Timothée Chalamet’s Paul has a role in Children, it is reduced compared to his leading role in the Villeneuve films, suggesting that there is still room for the franchise to grow beyond him as well.
Dune is big and expansive, and getting audiences connected to new characters like Leto II and Ghanima is essential for the success of a Dune: Part Four. Children of Dune follows Chani’s death and Paul’s disappearance into the desert, meaning there will be little of Chalamet or Zendaya in a fourth film. Instead, the other characters are given important focus. Fortunately, this cast of characters already includes several excellent stars, including Jason Momoa’s Duncan Idaho, Anya Taylor-Joy’s Alia, and Florence Pugh’s Princess Irulan. If the twins also work, the future of the franchise could look very bright.
Dune 4 Can Now Happen Sooner Than Expected
The Film Will Need To Move Into Production Before The Actors Age Out Of The Roles
Children of Dune could easily be adapted in a fourth Dune film, especially as the leads of the story have now already been cast. However, there may also be a limited amount of time in which this next sequel could be made. Notably, in the fourth novel, both Leto II and Ghanima are only nine years old. While this was changed in the Sci Fi Channel miniseries, the characters are certainly supposed to be young. With this in mind, and with Momoa already being sixteen, a fourth movie would need to happen quickly before the actors age out of their roles.
Warner Bros. will certainly want to continue making Dune movies after Dune: Part Three, and the future leads of the franchise have now been cast. While Villeneuve will be departing the series, there is great potential for additional Dune films to be made, all the way through Chapterhouse: Dune, and maybe even beyond. Many long-time fans, including this writer, are so excited for the future of this world, as Dune continues to grow as arguably the most important science-fiction multimedia franchise of our time.
