2026’s sci-fi movie lineup includes the return of one of the best movie franchises of all time, with Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three ending his time in the franchise and setting up a new chapter unlike anything that came before for another director to ideate on. For his final go in Arrakis, Villeneuve uses Dune: Part Three‘s star-studded cast to tell a violent and compelling story that changes everything.
After a long time, fans have finally had their requests answered, as the first Dune: Part Three trailer has been released. The footage teases the story of the trilogy finale, with the reveal of exciting new characters like Robert Pattinson’s Scytale, a Face Dancer who can change into other people, and Jason Momoa’s Hayt, a resurrected clone of Duncan Idaho, Paul Atreides’ friend and protector.
However, the most intriguing aspect of the footage is not about new characters or the many worlds the trilogy will visit, but how Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides has changed in the film. The main story of Dune: Part Three is set 17 years after the second movie in the sci-fi franchise. As happened in the books, Paul has started an intergalactic war that never ends.
At the start, we see Chalamet’s Paul and Zendaya’s Chani deciding on what names to give to their future children. That is the calm before the storm. The Dune franchise will be forever changed by Paul’s Holy War, with the first Dune: Part Three trailer showcasing how Atreides seems to be slowly losing himself to a war that takes the lives of billions. The path of destruction is notable.
The first Dune movie was about the Atreides being thrown out and Paul fighting to survive, while the second movie was about taking back power in Arrakis. Now, Dune: Part Three is the first film to have Paul firmly as the Emperor, and from this point on, his tragic future as an anti-heroic ruler is set in stone. The franchise will never be the same.
While there were quite a few action scenes in the first two Dune movies, it seems like the trilogy finale will be a completely different beast. In the Dune: Part Three trailer, it becomes clear that Paul Atreides’ Holy War will lead to several brutal action sequences on different planets. The sci-fi movie is not shying away from the ugliness of war.
At the Dune: Part Three trailer reveal event, Villeneuve noted how different the threequel is from the other two, saying, “It’s a more action-packed and tense film.” The director also called the film a thriller, unlike the first two Dune movies. As such, fans can expect a tonal change, with a heavier narrative that deconstructs the savior label given to Paul so far, showcasing his true destiny in Dune: Part Three.