Denis Villeneuve’s vision for ‘Dune: Messiah’ and the future of the franchise
A new chapter, not a trilogy
Denis Villeneuve, the visionary director behind the recent “Dune” films, recently shared his thoughts on the future of the franchise. While many fans might be expecting a trilogy, Villeneuve has a different perspective. He emphasized that the upcoming third movie, based on Frank Herbert’s novel “Dune Messiah,” is not intended to complete a trilogy. Instead, he views it as a distinct project with its own unique identity.
“For me, it was really a diptych,” Villeneuve explained, referring to the first two “Dune” movies. “It was really a pair of movies that will be the adaptation of the first book. That’s done and that’s finished. If I do a third one, which is in the writing process, it’s not like a trilogy. It’s strange to say that, but if I go back there, it’s to do something that feels different and has its own identity.”
Aging up the cast for ‘Dune Messiah’
“Dune Messiah” is set 12 years after the events of the first “Dune” novel, which presents a unique challenge for Villeneuve. The director will need to age up his young cast, which includes Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Florence Pugh. When asked about this, Villeneuve confidently stated, “I know how to do that,” though he did not share specific details of his plan.
Villeneuve’s final outing in the ‘Dune’ universe?
Villeneuve has long expressed interest in making a third “Dune” movie, but he has also indicated that it would likely be his final contribution to the franchise. Herbert’s literary series continues beyond “Dune Messiah,” and Villeneuve is open to other directors taking over the reins.
“Listen, if ‘Dune: Messiah’ happens, it will have been many years for me on Arrakis, and I would love to do something else,” he said. “I think that it would be a good idea for me to make sure that, in ‘Messiah,’ there are the seeds in the project if someone wants to do something else afterwards, because they are beautiful books. They are more difficult to adapt. They become more and more esoteric. It’s a bit more tricky to adapt, but I’m not closing the door. I will not do it myself, but it could happen with someone else.”
The cast’s commitment to the franchise
Whether the “Dune” cast would continue without Villeneuve remains uncertain. Zendaya, who plays a pivotal role in the series, has expressed her willingness to return, primarily due to her admiration for Villeneuve.
“Would we be down? I mean of course,” Zendaya said when asked about making another “Dune” movie. “Any time Denis calls it’s a yes from me. I’m excited to see what happens. I started ‘Messiah’ and I was like, ‘Woah, I’m only shooting the first movie. Let me just go back to the first one.’ It’s so much to take in, but there’s no better hands with better care and love for it than Denis.”
Anticipation and perfectionism
Zendaya also highlighted Villeneuve’s perfectionism and the anticipation surrounding the future of the franchise.
“I’m just excited to see … It’s just anticipation,” Zendaya added. ”Whenever he is ready. He’s a perfectionist in many ways and doesn’t want to share things until they’re ready. So I’m respecting that and waiting until he’s ready.”
Where to watch
Both “Dune” films are now available to stream on Max. For those who haven’t yet experienced Villeneuve’s epic adaptation, now is the perfect time to dive into the world of Arrakis.
Explore more
For more insights and to watch the trailers, check out the following links:
Villeneuve’s full interview can be found on the “Little Gold Men” podcast, offering a deeper dive into his creative process and vision for the “Dune” series.