Sci-Fi Denis Villeneuve’s Dune Messiah

[Pennywise]

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/denis-villeneuve-next-film-2026-release-warner-bros-1235935128/

Plot details have not yet been shared, but Villeneuve, who most recently helmed Dune: Part Two, previously stated that a third Dunemovie would not be his next film. He does have a nuclear war film set up at Legendary, but sources say that Villeneuve may have had a change of heart and could be turning his attention back to Dune. Legendary could not be reached for comment.

 

[DarkKnight88]

Mm. I think the smart money is still on the nuclear film. Doing a Christopher Nolan taking a break in between his Batman films.

Besides, Chalamet needs some man age before jumping onto Messiah lol

 

[Pennywise]

 

[RuralHawk]

Disney won't like this.

 

[Pennywise]

Disney won't like this.

Oh, right! That Star Wars film is slated for release that day!

 

[Filmfreak]

I find it a bit unlikely that they would refer to this as a "Denis Villeneuve-Legendary event film" and not "Dune" like it hasn't being built into a pretty huge franchise, especially after this year. So they either don't know yet, like the article alludes to, or it's going to be something else. I hope it's another project personally. I want him to do something else in between, especially after four science fiction films in a row. And I'm saying this as someone who has sci-fi as his favourite genre.

 

[J.Drangal]

What is that "Star Wars" you're all talking about?

 

[Spider-Fan]

I am hoping it's Dune lol

 

[Sawyer]

Given how big Part Two hit, there’s no way they’re going to hold off on the third for too long, but I do know that Denis wanted to do something different before the third, so I guess we’ll see…

 

[psylockolussus]

It should be Dune Part III. But we'll see him if he is directing another movie first.

 

[emielaen]

We know Part Three is coming. I woudln't be mad if this was something else.

 

[Filmfreak]

If it is Dune, my fear is WB/Legendary may have pressured Denis to focus on that because of the enormous success of Part Two and because they want to strike while the iron is hot. Maybe the box office failure of Furiosa had them think they can't wait long for a sequel to a popular film and that affected that decision. Villeneuve had previously expressed multiple times that he wanted to do other projects before the third movie and he wanted to wait for the actors to age a bit, which makes sense given the big time lapse between books.

If he changed his mind it's one thing but if that is indeed the case, I just hope it won't affect the final product.

 

[DarkKnight88]

You made the point earlier though. If they outright announced Godzilla & Kong dated for 2027, why would they be cryptic if this was for Dune. Why call it Untitled Legendary Denis Villeneuve Project?

Unless this was a shady announcement where the deal isn’t really done yet.

 

[Filmfreak]

You made the point earlier though. If they outright announced Godzilla & Kong dated for 2027, why would they be cryptic if this was for Dune. Why call it Untitled Legendary Denis Villeneuve Project?

Unless this was a shady announcement where the deal isn’t really done yet.

Yeah and I kind of still stand by it, but it turns out THR and Deadline have sources saying it's probably Dune. Especially the latter makes it sound like it's a sure thing so I'm not sure what to make of it.

Plot details have not yet been shared, but Villeneuve, who most recently helmed Dune: Part Two, previously stated that a third Dune movie would likely not be his next film. He does have a nuclear war film set up at Legendary, but sources say that Villeneuve may have had a change of heart and could be turning his attention back to Dune. Legendary could not be reached for comment.

The “Untitled Event Film” Warner Bros had dated for December 2026 now is being billed as a “Denis Villeneuve Event Film,” and sources said the studio and Legendary are holding the date with expectations that he wraps up the spectacular trilogy with Dune 3.

Hurdles still have to be cleared as they’re still working on script and locking cast, but it is the project Villenueve has been working on.

 

[blueharvest]

 

[Filmfreak]

Also an interesting point that I read is the reminder that Legendary made a new deal with Sony a couple of years back. Shouldn't one assumes that any new content would be produced by them and not WB?

 

[RuralHawk]

Expect a Disney counter attack

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

I think it will be Dune but wouldn't mind if he wanted to do another movie in between either.

 

[Drizzle]

The main reason why I'm inclined to believe it's Dune Messiah is because it's a prime holiday season slot. I think WB wants it to be Dune 3, they're just still negotiating with Villeneuve.

 

[Lily Adler]

So did @Pennywise just hijack this thread to turn this into the Dune Messiah thread?

 

[Pennywise]

So did @Pennywise just hijack this thread to turn this into the Dune Messiah thread?

Why, I would never!

Or would I?

 

[The Panhandler]

Also an interesting point that I read is the reminder that Legendary made a new deal with Sony a couple of years back. Shouldn't one assumes that any new content would be produced by them and not WB?

The deal they have with Sony is non-exclusive. Remember, Legendary and WB are teaming again up for the Cruise/Iñárritu film.

 

[antsman41]

 

[Spider-Fan]

What am I looking at?

 

[Pennywise]