In a recent interview with Empire magazine, acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve addressed the possibility of a third Dune film, provisionally titled Dune Messiah, based on the novel of the same name by Frank Herbert. However, Villeneuve made it clear that he needs to take a step back from the epic sci-fi saga first, after dedicating six years to bringing the first two parts to life.
“I did both movies back-to-back, which makes absolute sense for me. I felt that it was a good idea to move forward right after Part One. We were already designing, writing et cetera,” Villeneuve explained. “But it also meant that for six years I was on Arrakis non-stop, and I think it will be healthy to step back a little bit.”
The director, whose Dune: Part Two hit theaters earlier this month, isn’t ruling out the prospect of Dune Messiah entirely. He outlined several criteria that would need to be met before embarking on the potential third installment.
“First, make sure that we have a strong screenplay. The thing I want to avoid is not having something ready. I never did it, and now I feel it could be dangerous because of the enthusiasm. We need to make sure all the ideas are on paper,” Villeneuve stated.
Additionally, Villeneuve emphasized the need for Dune Messiah to surpass the quality of its predecessors. “If we go back, it needs to be real, it needs to be relevant, if ever I do Dune Messiah, it’s because it’s going to be better than Part Two. Otherwise, I don’t do it.”
Dune: Part Two has received critical acclaim, with a four-star review from NME praising its immersive visuals and thrilling action sequences. As fans eagerly await news on the potential third chapter, Villeneuve’s commitment to maintaining the franchise’s high standards is evident.
For now, the director plans to take a well-deserved break from the sands of Arrakis, allowing himself to recharge before potentially embarking on the next ambitious journey into Herbert’s iconic sci-fi universe.