Warner Bros. drops final trailer for Dune: Part Three

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The end of the year is fast approaching and with it, the pre-Christmas release ofDune: Part Three, the final installment in Denis Villeneuve’s acclaimed adaptation of sci-fi author Frank Herbert’s novel(s). Warner Bros. gave us a broody and haunting extended teaserin Marchand a July trailer jam-packed with tantalizing hints of what to expect, along with plenty of Easter eggs to delight avid book fans. Now we’ve got one last action-packed trailer setting up the final act for iconic anti-hero Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet).

(Spoilers for first two films in the franchise below.)

Previously, 2021’sDuneculminated in the brutal defeat of House Atreides by rival House Harkonnen, with Paul and his mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), fleeing to the desert and taking refuge among the Fremen. Among them is Chani (Zendaya), whom Paul has been seeing in visions all along.

InDune: Part Two(2024), Paul ingratiated himself with the Fremen, learned to ride a sandworm, and won Chani’s love. A pregnant Lady Jessica had her own plans for Paul as a messiah figure to fulfill a Bene Gesserit prophecy. Ultimately, Paul challenges the emperor, defeats his champion, and demands the Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) as his wife. The other Great Houses reject Paul as ruler, so he launches a holy war against them. And Chani rides off on a sandworm after refusing to bow down to Paul.

Dune: Part Threedraws on Herbert’s novelDune: Messiahand will take place roughly 17 years after the end ofPart Two, according to Villeneuve, as Paul faces the consequences of his earlier actions. Specifically, an assassination plot is brewing, and Chani is “involved.” Per the official synopsis:

Dune: Part Threeis set nearly two decades after Paul Atreides seized control of the Imperium. Now a ruthless Emperor, Paul must face the consequences of his reign as old allies return, terrifying new threats emerge, and betrayal lurks in every shadow. Haunted by visions of Imperial collapse and the reappearance of his long-lost love, Paul is drawn into a sweeping conspiracy, with Chani at the heart of its unfolding mystery. As enemies close in, Paul must confront the true cost of power and the fate of those he loves the most.

Chalamet is back as Paul Atreides, along with Zendaya, Pugh, and Ferguson. Josh Brolin reprises his role as weapons master Gurney Halleck; Javier Bardem is back as Stilgar, leader of the Fremen tribe at Sietch Tabr; and Jason Momoa returns as Duncan Idaho/Hayt. Joining the cast are Anya Taylor-Joy as Paul’s younger sister, Alia; Robert Pattinson as the villainous Scytale, who plots to dethrone Paul; Isaach de Bankolé as Paul’s former Fedaykin, Farok; Nakoa-Wolf Momoa (son of Jason) as Paul and Chani’s son, Leto II Atreides; and Ida Brooke as Paul and Chani’s daughter, Ghanima Atreides.

Dune: Part Threeopens in theaters on December 18, 2026, going head to head withAvengers: Doomsday.

Senior Writer

Senior Writer

Jennifer is a senior writer at Ars Technica with a particular focus on where science meets culture, covering everything from physics and related interdisciplinary topics to her favorite films and TV series. Jennifer lives in Baltimore with her spouse, physicist Sean M. Carroll, and their two cats, Ariel and Caliban.

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