Lady Jessica herself, Rebecca Ferguson, has confirmed that she is indeed returning for Dune: Part 3, but her role in the next chapter of the epic sci-fi franchise looks to be smaller than it was in the first two movies.

In an interview with IndieWire about her upcoming movie A House of Dynamite, the topic of Dune: Part 3 came up. Ferguson revealed that she has already completed filming for the third movie, slated to be released on December 18, 2026, but noted that she doesn’t “have a big part in this one.”

Lady Jessica is barely in Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah, which Dune: Part 3 is based on. Ferguson admitted, “I’m not sure I was supposed to be in it and Denis had a little idea,” referring to Denis Villeneuve, who wrote and directed the first two Dune movies, and will do so again for Dune: Part 3.

Ferguson’s Lady Jessica is the mother to Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides and a member of the Bene Gesserit, the powerful sisterhood that attempts to influence those in power. However, as we see through the first two movies, Lady Jessica’s loyalty is to Paul, as she goes against the sisterhood and helps him attain power on Arrakis. In the second movie, she is also pregnant with Paul’s sister, Alia Atreides, who is expected to figure more into the plot in Dune: Part 3.

In addition to Ferguson and Chalament, Dune: Part 3 will also star Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jason Momoa, Robert Pattinson, Josh Brolin, and Lea Seydoux.

The plot of Dune: Part 3 is expected to follow Paul Atreides, now known as Emperor Maud’Dib, as he faces threats from political adversaries and internal betrayal, all while he also attempts to protect his lover, Chani (Zendaya), and their unborn child.

In addition to confirming her return, Ferguson also commented on Villeneuve’s script, and the difficult task in adapting Herbert’s sci-fi tome.

“The script is phenomenal. It’s really hard to create a film, it’s such a dense book. There’s so much to tell. [Denis] does dip in and out and he does try and he does want to have certain connections and tentacles to the book. Whatever Denis touches I think is phenomenal.”

After the success of the first two Dune films – which includes a combined worldwide box office of $1.12 billion, 15 Oscar nominations, and seven wins – Dune: Part 3 will be one of the biggest films on the 2026 release calendar.

In the meantime, though, Ferguson’s next film, A House of Dynamite, which has earned a strong Rotten Tomatoes score, premieres in movie theaters on October 10, before releasing on Netflix on October 24.