Warner Bros. has debuted the final trailer for Dune: Part Three, and if you needed any convincing that we're truly in the home stretch before this landmark film, the new footage revealed there should do the trick. Between Dune: Part One in 2021 and Part Two in 2024, director Denis Villeneuve proved that he had the artistic vision to finally bring Frank Herbert's seminal 1965 novel to the big screen in a faithful yet thrillingly fresh way. The trailer for the third film promises to continue that trend, with recognizable scenes as well as some surprising deviations from Herbert's second novel set on Arrakis, Dune Messiah.
One absolutely crucial element the film will have to address is the fate of Paul Atreides, the once-idealistic young noble played by Timothée Chalamet. Dune: Part Three takes place 19 years after Paul became emperor of the known universe, leading his Fremen warriors on a holy war across the stars that resulted in the deaths of roughly 61 billion people. To say he's no longer the hero he once seemed would be the understatement of the century.
Before the credits roll on this final film in the trilogy, viewers will witness the twilight hours of Paul's reign. If you're wondering if that will include the death of Muad'Dib, you're in the right place. Let's break down what we know from Dune Messiah, with full spoilers from the books.
What happens to Paul Atreides in the Dune books?
Dune Messiah is a shorter, more introspective story than the first Dune novel, and it's all about the downfall of Paul Atreides. As the trailer reveals, several schemers including Scytale (Robert Pattinson) — a member of a people called the Bene Tleilax, who are capable of genetically modifying their appearance at will — are involved in a scheme to assassinate Paul and end his reign. This is no easy task, considering Paul's superhuman prescience allows him to know things far beyond any normal human, such as when others are plotting against him.
While there are some notable differences in the way Dune Messiah's assassination plot is set up versus the movie, such as Chani's (Zendaya) seeming involvement in the film's version, the overall gist is the same. Paul has led a reign of terror, and a group of powerful people have a plan to make it end.
Deep into the story, Paul learns that some of his Fremen are part of the conspiracy, and goes to put a stop to it. It's there that his life is irrevocably altered, when a bomb detonates that kills many and blinds Paul for good. However, the loss of his eyes allows Paul to tap even farther into his psychic abilities, and he is still able to see in his own way by giving in completely to his powers.
I strongly suspect we've already seen plenty of footage and images of Paul in his blinded state; all the shots where he has scarring around his eyes and they have an extra spice-tinged glow, like the poster above, are probably showing Paul post-blindness.
After his blinding, Paul undergoes more tragedies, triumphs, and betrayals during his final days as emperor. When the dust settles, he has defeated the conspirators who sought to have him killed. But in the process, he loses his psychic prescience so that he is well and truly blind. In the end, he embraces a Fremen tradition that dictates anyone suffering from blindness must walk into the desert, where their lives will presumably be claimed by the sands.
This is how Paul's story ends in Dune Messiah, with him walking into the desert — an act which sows the seeds for the Fremen's continued loyalty to his and Chani's children, Leto II and Ghanima, because of his decision to respect their traditions.
We find out in the following book, Children of Dune, that Paul survived his exile in the desert. He returns to play a major role in that story, which would form the basis for a fourth Dune film, should Warner Bros. decide to find another director to continue the franchise.
The main question going into Dune: Part Three is whether the trilogy-ender will stick to that book ending, or close Paul's story with a bit more finality. Personally, I'm hoping for the former. Even if a Children of Dune movie never happens, the ambiguity of Paul's solitary walk into the desert could easily serve as a satisfying conclusion for the character.
We'll discover the fate of Paul Atreides when Dune: Part Three premieres in theaters on December 18, 2026.
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