Confirmed to Be the Conclusion of Paul Atreides' Story, Will 'DUNE 3' Have a Happy Ending?

1. Closing the Story of Paul Atreides

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Based on the novel by Frank Herbert, DUNE 3 or DUNE: MESSIAH, will depict the dark side of Paul Atreides' journey after he becomes the messiah. In this film, Paul will face bitter realities, including the consequences of the holy war that occurs in his name.

Director Denis Villeneuve explained that this film will close Paul’s story with a different tone compared to the previous two films. Instead of highlighting aspects of heroism, DUNE 3 will explore Paul’s inner conflict as a ruler trapped in his destiny.

According to Villeneuve, the story in this film will be set about 12 years after the second film, bringing a different journey and narrative while still within the same world. If following the plot of Herbert's novel, Paul’s journey will end and be continued by his son, Leto II Atreides, whose story can be found in the novels Children of Dune and God Emperor of Dune. Paul may reappear through flashbacks from Leto II.

2. About Dune 3

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If following the plot of the novel, DUNE 3 will focus on the consequences of the Jihad Muad'Dib (10,196 AG - 10,208 AG) which has caused billions of deaths across the galaxy. This film will also highlight the internal conflicts and betrayals surrounding Paul.

Denis Villeneuve emphasizes that this film will be a deeper exploration of the price that a leader must pay. Given the storyline that will culminate in a bleak ending, Zendaya reminds not to expect too much of a happy ending.

“I don’t know what their future looks like (Chani and Paul). Without giving too much away, their future will not be happy,” she revealed in an interview with Digital Spy.

3. Who Will Star?

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If following the storyline of the book, Timothee Chalamet will return to play Paul Atreides, while Zendaya will reprise her role as Chani. Additionally, Florence Pugh, who plays Princess Irulan, will have a more significant role. Denis Villeneuve has also hinted that several other actors will return, including Charlotte Rampling as Gaius Helen Mohiam, Javier Bardem as Stilgar, and Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia Atreides.

However, the presence of Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin), and Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken) has not been confirmed, as they are only "mentioned" in the novel. The character Duncan Idaho, played by Jason Momoa, may also return. Although Duncan tragically died in the first film DUNE, he will be brought back as an artificial human (clone) known as Ghola.

When asked about when the production of DUNE: MESSIAH will begin, Villeneuve mentioned the year 2026, although he explained that this film requires a considerable amount of time for production. Therefore, he could not provide certainty about when the shooting process will start.

(kpl/adp)