Denis Villeneuve is set to start filming Dune 3 a year earlier than expected, moving up the timeline for the final chapter of the trilogy. Thanks to the massive success of Dune: Part Two, Warner Bros. was more willing to greenlight a third movie. Villeneuve wants to wrap up Paul Atreides’ journey by adapting Dune Messiah, the second book in Frank Herbert’s famous sci-fi series.
Originally, filming for Dune: Part Three was expected to begin in summer 2026. However, according to Deadline’s Baz Bamigboye, Villeneuve now plans to start shooting in June 2025. While there’s no official confirmation yet, previous reports suggested that his next movie was set for a December 18, 2026 release. Many believe this film will be Dune 3 rather than one of the other projects he’s currently linked to.
Starting Dune: Part Three in summer 2026 was never a realistic plan if Villeneuve wanted to release it by December 18, 2026. Big movies like this take a long time to edit and add special effects. By beginning filming in June 2025, the team has a much better chance of finishing everything on time.
Advertisement 
Villeneuve recently told Deadline that he expected to start filming Dune: Part Three in 2026. However, he also mentioned that progress was moving quickly, saying he might “go back behind the camera faster than I think.” At the same time, he made it clear that “these movies take a lot of time to be made, so it’s best not to say out loud when I might shoot.”
Read More: Denis Villeneuve Explains Why He’s Making Dune 3 Sooner Than He Planned
Villeneuve doesn’t seem to be rushing Dune: Part Three just because of studio pressure. Instead, he appears confident and ready to move forward on his own terms.
Dune: Part One was released during the COVID pandemic, which affected its box office performance, bringing in $407 million worldwide. In contrast, Dune: Part Two performed much better, earning $714 million in 2024. With such a big success, Legendary and Warner Bros. quickly approved Dune: Part Three, hoping to keep the momentum going while audiences are still excited.
The studio wants to get Dune: Part Three into production as quickly as possible. However, Villeneuve has made it clear that movies like this take time and shouldn’t be rushed. If they push for a fast release and the final film turns out disappointing due to a rushed schedule, it could be a major letdown.
Villeneuve likely prefers to take his time with Dune 3, but the studio may have other plans. If the latest reports are true, production is moving ahead sooner than expected, aiming to bring Paul Atreides’ story back to theaters by Christmas 2026.
Source: Deadline