Denis Villeneuve Won’t Make More Than Three ‘Dune’ Movies

The director, who is readying for the release of ‘Dune: Part Two’, is answering questions on whether he’ll make anything beyond his planned third outing.

Director/Writer/Producer Denis Villeneuve and Production Designer Patrice Vermette on the set of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure 'Dune: Part Two,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

(L to R) Director/Writer/Producer Denis Villeneuve and Production Designer Patrice Vermette on the set of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure 'Dune: Part Two,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Niko Tavernise. Copyright: © 2024 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Preview:

Denis Villeneuve is talking about his ‘Dune’ future.
Despite there being more books, he’s not sure he wants to make many more.
‘Dune: Part Two’ will be out in March.

Filmmaker Denis Villeneuve took on a big risk when he decided to tackle the first ‘Dune’ movie. David Lynch had tried and, while he did make the movie, it resulted in a big box office flop and curtailed a planned sequel.

For Villeneuve though, he succeeded in not only directing the movie, but then saw it score positive critical reactions, earn money at the box office (even with a day-and-date streaming release) and land six Oscars from 10 nominations.

And it has led to a sequel (‘Dune: Part Two’) that, though it has been delayed by Warner Bros. so that its stars can promote the movie in the wake of last year’s strike, is due in theaters next month.

But Villeneuve is now saying that, beyond a potential third movie –– ‘Dune Messiah’ –– he’s ready to be done making ‘Dune’ films.

Dune: Part Two

"Long live the fighters."

PG-132 hr 47 minMar 1st, 2024

Showtimes & Tickets

Watch Dune: Part Two Online

What Has Denis Villeneuve Said About His Future with ‘Dune’ Movies?

A scene from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure 'Dune: Part Two,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Talking with Time magazine to promote ‘Dune: Part Two’, Villeneuve was candid about the future:

“Dune Messiah should be the last Dune movie for me.”

That’s despite the fact that ‘Dune’ author Frank Herbert wrote six books in total, with more following via other authors, including his son. And ‘Dune’ only covers the first half of the original tome.

But Villeneuve, somewhat understandably, will be ready to move on after nearly a decade of his life (if a third is made). He has other projects he wants to focus on, including an adaptation of Stacy Schiff’s ‘Cleopatra’, currently being written by ‘1917’s Krysty Wilson-Cairns, and a version of Arthur C. Clarke’s futuristic classic ‘Rendezvous With Rama’.

Is ‘Dune Messiah’ Happening?

Timothee Chalamet as Paul Atreides in Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure 'Dune: Part Two,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

‘Dune Messiah’ would continue the story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he deals with his increasing influence on the desert planet of Arrakis.

The biggest question about the third ‘Dune’ movie at the moment is the success of the second. But even though there is no official greenlight for ‘Dune Messiah’, work is underway on it.

Here’s what Villeneuve told the South Korean press at a ‘Dune: Part Two’ press conference:

“[The script is] being written right now. The screenplay is almost finished but it is not finished. It will take a little time… There’s a dream of making a third movie… It would make absolute sense to me.”

At the same event, he also speculated that he might squeeze in another movie before he looks to ‘Messiah’:

“I don’t know exactly when I will go back to Arrakis. I might make a detour before just to go away from the sun. For my mental sanity I might do something in between.”

When Will ‘Dune: Part Two’ Be in Theaters?

‘Dune: Part Two’ will be released on March 1st.

Director/Writer/Producer Denis Veilleneuve on the set of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure 'Dune: Part Two,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Niko Tavernise. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.