Summary
Dune: Messiahis on the horizon. Director Denis Villeneuve is looking to include another major star in its ensemble…and it’s a surprising addition.
Villeneuve’sDunesaga has already portrayed itself as one of the greatest sci-fi film franchises of the decade and things are moving fast forDune: Messiah. The filmmaker has assured fans that a high-standard script is in the works and almost completed. And if all goes according to plan, filming could start as early as this summer and fans return to the sand dunes of Arrakis forDune: Messiahsometime in late 2026. The third film in theDunetrilogy will bring back many familiar faces, including Timothée Chalamet (Paul Atreides), Zendaya (Chani), and Florence Pugh (Princess Irulan). Even the dead might be resurrected, particularlyJason Momoa’s Duncan Idahoalthough in an unknown form and scale. Villeneuve, however, would not be returning for more afterDune: Messiah. The director has expressed that the later books in Frank Herbert’s series feel anticlimactic and diverge from the creative and thematic direction he envisioned for the saga.
Robert Pattinson Might Star In Dune: Messiah
From the Alleys of Gotham to the Dunes of Arrakis
As first reported byDeadline,Robert Pattinson is being eyed for a major role inDune: Messiah.The Batmanstar would potentially be onboarded as the villainous Scytale, the shape-shifter who first appeared in Frank Herbert’s 1969 novelDune: Messiah.No offer has officially been made yet.
Scytale is reportedly going to play a major role inDune: Messiahas he did in the source material. Fans may see him join Duncan Idaho’s ghola clone, named Hayt, as anotherBene Tleilax genetically engineered creationaimed at overthrowing now-Emperor Paul Atreides. If indeed true, it would mark Pattinson’s third foray into blockbuster franchises, after his role as the talented Hufflepuff student, Cedric Diggory inHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fireand as the Caped Crusader in Matt Reeves’The Batman. The 38-year-old has what it takes to rhyme with the dunes of Arrakis. Brooding characters? His Bruce Wayne inThe Batmanis solid proof. As an A-list Hollywood actor, he’s more than bankable enough for a franchise as celebrated asDune. He could follow in the footsteps of Austin Butler’s Feyd-Rautha, who became one of the most memorable antagonists inDune: Part Two.
Till then, Pattinson will be a busy man. Fresh from the launch of Bong Joon Ho’s Sci-fi thriller,Mickey 17, and wrapping filming of A24’sThe DramaandDie, My Love, the Brit is currently engrossed in shooting Christopher Nolan’s epic,The Odyssey. There’s alsofilming forThe Batman: Part 2,which would possibly commence late this year as confirmed by the actor himself.
Sugarcoating itself with high-ranking Hollywood stars could be a good marketing strategy forDune: Messiah. It may seem like the film has no need of one — the first two installments have earned a combined $1.124 billion at the box office — butDune: Messiahhas a political and religious tone that may not be box office-friendly.
