Global fan event offers sneak peek of ‘Dune: Part Three’
A 10-city simulcast offered lucky fans a first look at the ‘Dune: Part Three’ trailer before the director and star answered their questions.
There’s already plenty of anticipation for Denis Villeneuve’s final installment in the Dune trilogy, which releases December, 18 2026. But expectations were heightened for select followers fortunate enough to attend the global IMAX fan event on Wednesday. It was simulcast in Toronto, Montreal, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Mexico City, London, Berlin and Abu Dhabi. In addition to the first official trailer’s debut, there was a Q&A with Villeneuve and surprise guest, Timothée Chalamet.
Dune: Part Three covers events in Frank Herbert’s second book in the sci-fi saga, Dune: Messiah. Paul Atreides’ (Chalamet) hero’s journey led him back to the throne. But the reluctant emperor’s absolute power inevitably corrupts him. His position as triumphant conqueror is built on the deaths of millions, leading to a high-level conspiracy to end his bloodline.
While answering fan-submitted questions, Villeneuve revealed he did not intend to immediately begin working on the final film after wrapping the second. But inspiration struck and he wrote the script right away. The cast and crew would return to Abu Dhabi’s Liwa Desert, once again ensuring the vast, remote landscapes played a significant role in the film.
Chalamet explained that while the first two films felt similar, this one “has a different energy.” He was especially drawn to the change in Paul’s character, whose traditional saviour role is turned on its head. Villeneuve notes that all the characters bring something surprising to the film, but he was especially impressed by Chalamet’s approach to the troubled emperor. Unwilling to take all the credit, the actor insisted everything he needed to inform the character was on Villeneuve’s and Herbert’s pages.
When asked about his early influences, the Canadian filmmaker proudly talked about growing up watching experimental films from the National Film Board. “That was my film education,” Villeneuve remarked. Now, he’s continuing those traditions with the formation of Dune’s “psychedelic unit,” tasking two young French Canadian filmmakers to experiment with different storytelling techniques for the film.
Having lived with the character for so long, Chalamet commented that he felt melancholic to be moving on as they neared the end of filming. It was “emotive on a personal level,” he said. “It felt like I was losing a piece of myself.”
To close, fans were also treated to an extended scene from the film that was shot in 70mm. Audiences can see the epic war battle before 70mm showings of The Odyssey.