As the year slowly comes to a close, so too does the moral arc of the Dune universe—or at least the Timothée Chalamet-inhabited version. The third installment of Denis Villanueve’s Dune adaptations arrives in theaters just ahead of Christmas, and so far, clips from the film promise a starry blockbuster worth a trip to the theater.
Set 17 years after the last two films, Dune: Part Three wraps up the ill-fated love story of Paul Atreides (Chalamet) and Chani (Zendaya), with a few new characters joining the battle between good and evil. Here’s everything we know so far:
Is there a trailer for Dune: Part Three?
The first official trailer for Dune: Part Three was released on July 8 and offers an in-depth look at how the third installment will unfold. Chalamet’s Atreides and Zendaya’s Chani are at odds, with him having betrayed her on his quest for power. Watch the trailer below:
Another teaser was released on March 17. It opens with Paul Atreides and Chani fantasizing about what they would name their future child: if it’s a girl, Ghanima, because “she would need to be strong, like her mother,” Paul says. And if it’s a boy, it should be Leto (after Paul’s father), because he would “have the wisdom of his grandfather,” Chani adds. The rest of the clip shows Paul preparing for war and facing off against the new villain Scytale (Robert Pattinson, sporting a bleached-blonde buzz cut). Watch the trailer below:
The film’s final trailer was released October 27 and shows Chalamet’s Atreides officially losing the plot. As the once-noble defender of the downtrodden realizes he’s becoming the oppressor, things between him and Chani fall apart further. Pattinson shows up halfway through looking nearly unrecognizable, as he and Chani plot against Paul. Watch below:
Who else is in the Dune: Part Three cast?
In addition to Chalamet, Zendaya, and Pattinson, several key characters will return. This includes: Jason Momoa as Hayt, Javier Bardem as Stilgar, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica (Paul’s mother), Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia Atreides (Paul’s little sister), and Isaac De Bankolé as Farok.
What is the plot of Dune: Part Three?
Dune: Part Three is inspired by Frank Herbert’s Dune: Messiah, and picks up 17 years after the “chosen one” Paul defeated the Harkonnens and became Emperor and messiah of the Fremen. His true love, Chani, is left betrayed after he marries Princess Irulan (Pugh) for power. Paul goes on to conquer the universe, and the book is a classic story about how power corrupts.
What has Villeneuve said about Dune: Part Three?
At a preview event for the first teaser, the director said Part Three would be markedly different from the first two. “If the first movie was more of a contemplation, like a boy exploring a new world, and the second one being a war movie, this one is more action-packed and tense,” he told the crowd, Variety reports. Paul, Villeneuve added, is “dealing with the consequences of having too much power, and he is trying to figure out how to get out of this cycle of violence. As an Emperor who can see the future, he’s kind of invincible. But there are people trying to overthrow him.”
Still, the director concluded that the story is ultimately “about Paul and Chani and them struggling with their relationship, [and] having the burden and incredible pressure from the world around them. There’s something about their love, through time, and the way they are, their relationship evolves.”
When is the Dune: Part Three release date?
Dune: Part Three arrives in theaters on December 18, 2026.