Director Denis Villeneuve is making a swift return to the world of *Dune*, as his next film, *Dune: Part Two*, is just around the corner. Villeneuve had initially mentioned plans to take a break after *Part Two* before transitioning to its follow-up, *Dune: Messiah*. However, following the overwhelming success of *Dune: Part Two*, which garnered both critical acclaim and over $700 million at the worldwide box office, it seems he has altered those initial plans.
In a recent conversation with Deadline, the filmmaker shared that he is feeling inspired to dive back into his work faster than expected. He mentioned, “I’m in the writing zone right now,” referring to the script for *Dune: Messiah*. While he hasn’t specified an exact timeline for the sequel, he indicated that he will likely produce *Messiah* much quicker than he had originally anticipated.
Villeneuve elaborated, “Let’s say that I thought that after *Part Two*, I would take a break, spend some time in the woods to recover. But the woods didn’t really suit me; it seems I’ll be back behind the camera sooner than I thought.”
During his discussion, Villeneuve was tight-lipped about a specific start date for filming *Dune: Messiah*. He pointed out that movie productions usually take considerable time, thus it’s prudent not to announce a filming schedule prematurely. However, he did respond with a puzzled expression when a potential 2026 start date was mentioned. Whether this implies filming will commence before or during that year remains uncertain. Warner Bros. previously scheduled a December 18, 2026, release for Villeneuve’s next significant project, and if that is indeed *Dune: Messiah*, he would need to begin filming well before that date.
Villeneuve also confirmed that most of the cast from *Dune: Part Two* will reprise their roles in *Dune: Messiah*, including Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Florence Pugh. Anya Taylor-Joy is set to join the cast following her brief appearance as Paul Atreides’ sister Alia. The director also noted that *Dune: Messiah*, which he claims will “conclude the Paul Atreides story,” will differ greatly from its predecessors.
He teased, “The story unfolds approximately 12 years after we last saw these characters in *Part Two*. Their journeys and circumstances change significantly this time, which is why I emphasize that while it’s the same universe, it’s a fresh narrative.”
A release date for *Dune: Messiah* has not yet been officially announced. Meanwhile, audiences can currently stream both *Dune: Part One* and *Dune: Part Two* on Max.
