Production on Dune: Part Three has wrapped. After four months of filming across both deserts and massive indoor soundstages and studios, director Denis Villeneuve has brought the cameras to a stop for his third and final movie in the modern Dune saga. The film began production in July 2025 and finished up on November 11, 2025.
Villeneuve and his team have made some interesting choices for this finale. One that really stands out is the decision to shoot on actual 65mm film and IMAX formats, rather than relying fully on digital like the past two movies (via World of Reel). It’ll be curious to see if this movie looks exponentially different than not just the two previous Dune movies, but also the rest of Villeneuve’s filmography, which were all shot on digital from Prisoner (2013) onwards.
The production took place largely in Budapest, Hungary, like the previous movies. Other returning filming locations include Jordan and the United Arab Emirates for the desert sequences.
Denis Villeneuve’s final Dune chapter is in sight
In terms of cast and story, things are shaping up well. Villeneuve is mostly adapting the second book, Dune Messiah. The movie is also rumored to possibly include some elements of the third book, Children of Dune, based on certain castings.
Brand new cast members include Robert Pattinson, who has confirmed his role and joked about how filming in the desert was so "relaxing" that he felt like he "didn't have a single functioning brain cell." He’s rumored to be playing Scytale, one of the primary villains of Dune Messiah.
Also returning are Timothée Chalamet (Paul Atreides) and Zendaya (Chani), along with Jason Momoa, who confirmed he’s coming back as Duncan Idaho. Anya Taylor-Joy (Alia Atreides) and Florence Pugh (Princess Irulan) will also be returning, while Rebecca Ferguson (Lady Jessica) will have a very small role. Javier Bardem (Stilgar) and Josh Brolin’s (Gurney Halleck) statuses are unknown, but they might presumably appear.
Nakoa‑Wolf Momoa (son of Jason Momoa) and Ida Brooke are also cast as the twins Leto II Atreides and Ghanima Atreides, who are the children of Paul and Chani.
Post-production now begins in earnest, with the film slated for a December 18, 2026 release. Villeneuve has said from the start that he saw the trilogy as three films, so it’ll be fascinating to see if it can reach the highs of Dune: Part Two and end the trilogy on a high note.
This movie also gives Warner Bros. something big to market and build around for 2026, in lieu of a potential sale and bidding war by multiple top parties. The studio has had a stellar 2025 run with Sinners, Weapons, One Battle After Another, Superman, Mickey 17, and much more. Dune: Part Three should help make 2026 another strong year for the studio.