Dune 3: Timothée Chalamet unveils a darker, more sinister look
The film is set to premiere on December 18th and will face off against "Avengers: Judgment Day" in theaters.
Hollywood actor Timothée Chalamet on Tuesday released a rough first look at the epic finale to Denis Villeneuve’s acclaimed sci-fi trilogy, “Dune: Part 3.” The psychedelic close-up image shows Chalamet’s reprise of Paul Atreides as a much-aged and scarred character. He’s seen wearing a Fremen costume, with bright blue eyes in blue spots, visible facial scars, and a worn-out but menacing appearance, all hinting at a darker chapter in the upcoming film.
The first trailer for Dune 3 is a pretty epic tease for the final film in Denis Villeneuve’s trilogy (the director has confirmed that he’s ending the saga here, but the door will be open for someone else to try to take on the later books in the Frank Herbert series, if they dare).
Warner Bros. has also released a series of character posters for Dune 3. Once again, Timothée is shown as a much fiercer and more menacing character, with scars around his eyes. Some fans are already predicting that the more complex interpretation of the role could earn Timothée the Oscar he missed out on Sunday when Michael B. Jordan accepted the award for his role in Ryan Coogler’s Sinners.
The posters also feature Zendaya, whose commanding presence as Chani suggests an expanded role. We also see Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Paul’s mother and member of the Bene Gesserit, Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia Atreides, Paul’s sister, Javier Bardem as Stilgar, the Fremen leader, and Isaach De Bankolé as Farok.
Even more surprising is that Jason Momoa returns as Duncan Idaho after dying in the first installment, and Florence Pugh looks stunningly transformed as Princess Irulan.
Dune Part 3 is based on Herbert’s 1969 novel The Messiah of Dune, which explores Paul’s reign after his rise to power. While the films have already deviated from the novels, particularly with Paul and Chani breaking up at the end of Dune Part 2, Paul’s hardened attitude suggests that Dune Part 3 will at least follow the novels’ tonal shift, portraying him not as a heroic outsider but as a complex leader weighed down by prophecies, political manipulation, and the consequences of power.
Dune 3 will hit theaters on December 18, 2026 (people are already calling it “Dune Day” because Avengers: Judgment Day is scheduled to be released on the same day).
Credits:
Images courtesy of Warner Bros.
