With Dune: Part Two exceeding fans’ expectations and perfectly setting up the room for the threequel, fans are ecstatic to see what the future holds for the acclaimed sci-fi IP. While Dune: Messiah is yet to be officially greenlit by WBD, following the sequel’s success and with Villeneuve already knee-deep into its script, it’s only a matter of time before it gets announced.
The threequel, if greenlit, will potentially mark the end of his stay on Arrakis, and for the future of the series, one Industry insider stressed the idea for a new filmmaker to helm it moving forward.
Industry Insider Wants a New Filmmaker to Replace Denis Villeneuve for Children of Dune
Denis Villeneuve once expressed that he always envisioned Paul’s story to be a three-parter, with Messiah being a reaction to “the fact that people perceived Paul Atreides as a hero “. However, the Blade Runner 2049 filmmaker has no intentions of staying in Arrakis after a potential third film, as the later novels in the series become more esoteric. He told Empire:
“Dune Messiah was written in reaction to the fact that people perceived Paul Atreides as a hero, Which is not what he wanted to do. My adaptation [of Dune] is closer to his idea that it’s actually a warning… After that the books become more… esoteric,”
Industry Insider Daniel Richtman also shared a similar viewpoint about the later books being too much to be adapted on the big screen. However, he did express the idea of having a new filmmaker handle Children of Dune, which will wrap up Jessica and Alia Atreides’ arcs.
Let Dune: Messiah be the end of Paul's arc and last one for Denis Villeneuve. Then let another talented filmmaker do Children as the one to end Jessica and Alia's arcs and honestly I'll stop there. The other books are just… too much. If you do more Dune films make something new
— Daniel Richtman (@DanielRPK) March 5, 2024
It’ll be interesting to see if WBD will be down to continue the series without Denis Villeneuve at the helm, but for now, fans will hope the sequel to Part Two is confirmed sooner rather than later.
Legendary CEO Is Optimistic About Dune 3
With Villeneuve previously expressing that making Dune a trilogy would be a dream come true for the acclaimed sci-fi filmmaker, the execs at the top have given a riveting update on its possibility. Legendary Entertainment CEO Josh Grode expressed that everyone is enthralled by Villeneuve’s vision, stating if the director is confident about the threequel, there’s no reason to halt it. He told NBC:
“We have to have all creative stakeholders aligned and support the vision. I think everybody is very excited and really enjoying this moment and if Denis [Villeneuve] gets the script right and he feels that he can deliver another experience on par with what we’ve just completed then I don’t see why not,”
Fortunately for fans, Denis Villeneuve confirmed that he is almost done with the script for Dune: Messiah, and following the sequel’s critical and commercial success, a third one is quite likely.
Dune: Part Two is currently running in theatres.
