DUNE Director Denis Villeneuve Will Only Make DUNE: MESSIAH If It's Better Than PART TWO
It sounds like Dune: Messiah isn’t really as sure of a thing as we thought it was. The director of the first two films, Denis Villeneuve, still isn’t sure if he will return to make the third film. While Warner Bros. wants a third movie, and Villeneuve has been working on the script, he is planning on making another film before ultimately deciding if he wants to make another Dune movie. During a recent interview with Empire, the filmmaker said:
“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. 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. 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.”
He then went on to say he won’t make a third Dune movie if it’s not better than the second one:
“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.”
I mean, I get it, but I hope that he does make Dune: Messiah because he left the story wide open for it at the end of the sequel! It would be a shame and a waste to not definitively finish the story that he started.
The filmmaker Previously discussed his plans for a third movie, saying, "There is Dune’s second book, The Messiah of Dune, which could make an extraordinary film. I always saw that there could be a trilogy; after that, we’ll see. It’s years of work; I can’t think of going further than that."
Dune is a mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, and tells the story of Paul Atreides, “a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.”
Part Two explores the “mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.”
Dune: Messiah takes place several years after the events of the first book and follows Paul Atreides, now Emperor of the Known Universe. Paul's rule is marked by political intrigue, religious fervor, and the consequences of his prescient visions. As he navigates the complexities of his position, Paul faces challenges from various factions, including the powerful Bene Gesserit Sisterhood, who seek to control his bloodline. Amidst this turmoil, Paul's relationship with his wife, Chani, and his young children adds a personal dimension to his struggles.