Summary
According to an insider rumor, Denis Villeneuve’s highly anticipatedDune Messiahmay begin production even earlier than previously believed. The third installment in the franchise will be the follow-up to the Academy Award-nominatedDune Part 1andPart 2,which starred Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya in the leading roles.
Villeneuve’s adaptations of Frank Herbert’sDunehave been major successes for Warner Bros., with each of the first two films earning widespread critical acclaim and box office success. Previously, rumors circulated suggesting Villeneuve might delayDune Messiahin favor of working on another sci-fi project, possibly his long-plannedadaptation of the ambitiousRendezvous with Rama. While it was later announced that production onMessiahwould be moved up, filming was still not expected to begin until late next year.
However, a new report fromDeadlinehas stirred excitement by suggesting that Villeneuve will begin filmingDune Messiahas early as June 2025. According to journalist Baz Bamigboye, who attended a BAFTA pre-party hosted by Charles Finch, a source whispered,“‘Denis Villeneuve will start filming Dune Messiah this June and not in 2026.’ This is news to both ears.”This claim contradicts earlier expectations thatMessiahwould not enter production until December 2026, creating a whirlwind of excitement among eager fans.
Dune MessiahTo Begin Filming Summer 2025
If the new accelerated timeline is accurate, it indicates that Villeneuve and his team are deep into pre-production, with nearly a completed script. Given the complexity of Herbert’sDune Messiah, which follows Paul Atreides’ struggle with his own god-like status and the consequences of his rise to power, the story will require significant planning andpossibly some major reworkingto bring Villeneuve’s vision to the screen.
Fans have also pointed out that Chani actor Zendaya already has anambitious filming schedule for 2025, includingSpider-Man 4and the latest Christoper Nolan epic. However, it didn’t previously include principal photography forDune 3. Villeneuve has hinted that Florence Pugh’s Princess Irulan and Anya Taylor Joy’s Alia will both play a larger role in the third installment, so it’s possible they will start filming with a partial cast, and Zendaya will join in 2026.
While fans of Herbert’sDuneseries will be thrilled at the prospect ofDune Messiaharriving sooner than expected, it remains to be seen if this rumor will be confirmed by Villeneuve or Warner Bros. Regardless, the highly-anticipatedMessiahwill likely bethe final film of Villeneuve’s trilogyand one of the most ambitious sci-fi adaptations in recent history.
