Following the release of the second installment, fans of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune are undoubtedly eagerly anticipating the release of the third. However, there is no need to worry—Villeneuve appears to be taking his sweet time making Dune 3, much as James Cameron did with Avatar. Wait, that means we might have to wait another ten years for the next Dune film.
Well, in a recent chat with THR, the French-Canadian filmmaker, 56, made it clear that he is not in a rush to begin the next installment of the Dune saga. Making sure “I have the right screenplay” is another priority for him. Well, before you start pulling out your hair in frustration, consider this: maybe Villeneuve is onto something.
Just like Cameron, he’s treating Dune like his own child, nurturing it with care and patience to ‘make sure’ only the best product comes forward. Indeed, it is okay if it means having to wait over ten years for the next release.
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune 3 Strategy: Lessons Learned from James Cameron?
What is the latest on Denis Villeneuve’s plans for Dune 3? It appears that he is drawing inspiration from James Cameron’s Avatar film series.
True enough, 13 years after the first Avatar (2009) was released and went on to become the highest-grossing movie ever made, James Cameron returned with Avatar: The Way of Water (2022). And the result? With multiple records broken and a global gross of $2.32 billion, it was a huge box office success and the highest-grossing movie of 2022.
And Villeneuve is clearly very patient and kind with Dune. Having said that, he won’t be going to churn out some rehashed crap with shoddy CGI like the MCU does with their yearly movie releases.
The filmmaker recently stated to The Hollywood Reporter that he is making sure he has the “right screenplay” and that it only requires minor adjustments to be ready for production:
“I just finished Part Two very recently, and I went from Part One to Part Two without even an hour in between. It’s also about making sure that I have the right screenplay. I have four projects on the table, currently. One of them is a secret project that I cannot talk about right now, but that needs to see the light of day quite quickly…All these projects are still being written, so we’ll see where they go, but I have no control over that.”
The director gave us less confidence when it came to when we could expect Dune: Part Three to go into production. In last month’s The Playlist interview, Villeneuve made this acknowledgment:
“I agreed to make Part One and Part Two back to back and now I think I will need to digest this experience.”
Aside from his excitement, Villeneuve may want to take a vacation before finishing his trilogy:
“I have other stories I want to tell. Once [Dune: Part Two] is out, I intend to go back into the snow and dream a little bit to see if I’m going back to Arrakis right away or if I’m taking a detour just for mental sanity.”
He is carefully and patiently nurturing Dune, just as Cameron did with his epic sci-fi film franchise, to ensure that only the best material comes out. Do we really need another superhero film with generic villains and recycled storylines? No, thanks.
Fans Reaction: Dune 3 Will Not Be Denis Villeneuve’s Next Flick
Dune: Part Two was just released on March 1, 2024. Reviews for the movie have been favorable from both critics and viewers. It might be among the best science fiction and sequel movies ever made, according to many critics.
Well, having said that, it appears that we will have to wait a little longer for Denis Villeneuve’s highly anticipated third film in the series. Fans of the sci-fi franchise were disappointed to learn that the director’s next project will not be the third installment of Dune.
Some fans laughed at the situation, while others were disappointed. Let us listen to a few fan voices:
The movie will probably come out, maybe in 5 or 10 years 😂 pic.twitter.com/KzID7rMxfs
— Ngọc Diệp (@Langocdiep2k) March 1, 2024
Messiah takes place 12 years after Dune.
— Evl_lj_0lllllll0_🦍 🇺🇸 (@lj_evl) March 1, 2024
So he's gonna keep everyone waiting for 5 years?
— Hadibandhu Boral (@HadibandhuBoral) March 1, 2024
It’s okay
As impatient as I am having the actors age slightly will give it a more immersive feel.Excited to see what else he has in the pipework.
— Tristan (@Tallahassee337) March 2, 2024
I’m fine of waiting no need to rush this has the potential to be the best trilogy
— Steve (@DankRhythm) March 2, 2024
So we looking at a 2026-2028 release date
— Dusk (@DuskTheFuss) March 2, 2024
So, while it can be disheartening to have to wait so long for Dune 3, let’s trust in Villeneuve’s vision and be aware of his tireless efforts to bring us something truly special. In the meantime, we can always rewatch the first two Dune films and marvel at their brilliance.
Who knows, maybe the epicness of it all will leave us all in awe when Dune 3 eventually opens in theaters. So hang in there, Dune fans—positive things come to those who wait.
Dune is currently streaming on Max, while Dune: Part Two is in theaters.
