Why Dune: Messiah Movie Isn’t Part Of The Franchise Trilogy Explained By Denis Villeneuve

Dune filmmaker Denis Villeneuve explains why Dune: Messiah won’t be part of a franchise trilogy. After closing the first part of Paul Atreides’ (Timothée Chalamet) journey with Dune: Part Two, Villeneuve is currently hard at work developing the story outline for Dune: Messiah, which is based on the Frank Herbert book of the same name. The story is set twelve years after the events of Dune and concludes Atreides’ story within the Known Universe.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Villeneuve argues why his upcoming adaptation of Dune: Messiah will not be part of a trilogy. Stating that the first two Dune films he helmed were part of a diptych, Villeneuve says that the third movie will have its own identity and contain a brand-new cinematic philosophy. Check out what he said on the matter below:

The thing is, first, it’s really important that people understand for me, it was really a diptych, it was two movies, a pair of movies that will be the adaptation of the first book. So that’s done, that’s finished. So, if I do a third one, which is in the writing process, I will say that, for me, it’s a different object. It’s not like a trilogy almost, it’s strange to say, but I really want to—if I go back there—to do something that feels different and has its own identity. Let’s say for me, ’Dune,’ in a way, is finished. And ‘Dune: Messiah’ will be something new that I will approach with its own different cinematic philosophy.

Dune: Messiah May Be Denis Villeneuve’s Riskiest Film

Messiah Does Not Currently Have A Confirmed Release Date

While the first two Dune movies were both critical and commercial successes, Villeneuve may be taking the most significant risk of his career by adapting Dune: Messiah to the screen. The Oscar-nominated director has several other projects in the works before he may end up directing the third movie, including an adaptation of Rendezvous with Rama and Cleopatra. However, Dune: Messiah could very well prove to be his most polarizing movie, especially for those who have not read Herbert’s book.

At the end of Dune: Part Two, Paul declares himself as the Lisan al Gaib and challenges Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken) for the throne. He successfully kills Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen (Austin Butler). He also asks for Princess Irulan’s (Florence Pugh) hand in marriage, to which she accepts after the Emperor surrenders. This prompts the beginning of a holy war that could prove cataclysmic for the Known Universe, leading Chani (Zendaya) to leave Paul for parts unknown.

Dune: Messiah showcases the impact of the holy war Atreides began, and the consequences that came from it. Villeneuve has stated that Paul Atreides’ transformation to the Lisan al Gaib is not supposed to be heroic, and how he chooses to depict this could prove disconcerting for viewers. He will also have to contend with a sizable time-jump, as Messiah takes place twelve years after the first novel. This is assuming Villeneuve chooses to keep that element intact. After the first two Dune movies, the director will have a host of new adaptational challenges to face for Messiah.

Source: Vanity Fair