Denis Villeneuve has officially confirmed that the third Dune film will be the last in the franchise. Although Dune 3 will conclude the three films in that universe, Villeneuve made it clear that it will not be a trilogy.
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Villeneuve said, “It's important for people to understand that for me, it's really a diptych. It's actually a couple of movies that will be adaptations of the first book. That's over and done with." He added, “If I do a third, which is in the process of being written, it won't be like a trilogy. It's fun to say that, but if I'm going back there, it's to do something that feels different and has its own identity.”
The third film, expected to be called Dune: Messiah, is set to take place 12 years after the events of the first Dune novel, meaning the cast will have to age. Regarding that particular work, director Villeneuve said, “That's my problem. I know how to do that.” Villeneuve has hinted that he wants to leave the Dune franchise but that doesn't mean he wants it to end. He's open to the idea of someone else taking over the franchise and continuing the story, “Listen, if Dune: Messiah happens, it's going to be a lot of years for me on Arrakis, and I want to do something else. I think it's a good idea to make sure that, with Messiah, there are bones in the project if someone else wants to do something else afterwards, because the books are great. They are more difficult to adapt. It becomes more esoteric. It's a bit trickier to adapt, but I haven't closed the door. I wouldn't do it myself, but it could happen to someone else.”
