Science fiction fans responded to the release of
Dune: Part Two
. The film has already racked up more than 200 million admissions in the United States and has grossed more than $630 million in revenue. A success that pushes Quebec director Denis Villeneuve to return to direct the third and final film in his adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel. Production company Legendary confirmed on Thursday April 4 that production of the third film had received the green light.
While Frank Herbert's work is much longer (six books) than that proposed by Denis Villeneuve, the director had already assured Time
Magazine
of his desire not to go beyond a trilogy: ““
Dune: The Messiah” will be the last for me. The screenplay is currently being written and is almost finished. It’s a dream for me to be able to make this third film
,” he declared.
Dune: The Messiah
will be the adaptation of the 2nd book of the science fiction saga, entitled
The Messiah of Dune
. In this novel, Paul Atréides (played by Timothée Chalamet in Villeneuve's films) and the Fremen army he leads have triumphed over their enemies after twelve years of war. Having become Emperor Muad'Dib, he sees the future and guesses those who will want to regain control of the precious spice of Arrakis. Princess Irulan, the Bene Gesserit and her mysterious mothers, or even the Space Guild will be among her detractors.
A new adaptation after
Dune
Once the saga was over, Denis Villeneuve was approached by
Deadline
magazine to direct the film adaptation of
Nuclear War: A Scenario
. Production company Legendary recently acquired the rights to Pulitzer Prize finalist Annie Jacobsen's March 26, 2024 novel. The book recounts dozens of interviews with dozens of military and civilian experts and recounts what the world would look like in the aftermath of a nuclear war.