Despite the release of Dune: Part 2 being over a year away, you may be surprised to know that talks have already begun around adapting the second book in the Dune franchise, Dune: Messiah, into a movie.
The news comes not long after it was revealed that Florence Pugh was in talks to star in the second movie as Princess Irulan.
Dune was one of the largest (and most anticipated) movies to hit our screens in 2021. After being delayed a year, the movie, which is adapted from the book of the same name by Frank Herbert, amassed over $400m at the box office and was one of the biggest movies to come from 2021.
In a conversation with Collider, Denis Villeneuve, the director of Dune, revealed that he has thought about adapting the Dune: Messiah after the release of Dune: Part 2 but at this time remains fully focused on the upcoming Dune: Part 2.
If I survive Dune: Part Two, then I might do the Messiah.
Denis Villeneuve
What is Dune: Messiah?
Now, for those that are new to the Dune universe, you may be confused about how the Dune movies match up with the novels by Herbert. Whilst Dune: Part 2 is the second movie by Villeneuve, it is largely going to be an adaptation of the second half of the first book.
Dune: Messiah, on the other hand, is the second book in the Dune Universe by Frank Herbert. The book follows Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) twelve years after he crowned himself the Emperor of the known universe, usurping House Corrino. What ensues for Paul is a complicated events in which he grapples to maintain his control of the universe whilst those closest to him conspire against him.
At the moment, there is no doubt that Dune: Messiah is years away and, at this point, it might not even happen. Villeneuve remains solely focused on the second installment and hasn’t really given a thought to the third.
Dune: Part 2 hits cinemas around the world in Oct 20. 2023 and is anticipated to be a huge success at the box office – mirroring the release of the first movie.
Meanwhile, you might want to keep your eye on everything we know about the upcoming game adaptation by Shiro Games which is anticipated to release later this year.
