Timothée Chalamet Drops Huge Dune 3 Reveal Only Book Fans Knew
Timothée Chalamet just let slip a major detail about Dune: Part 3 that will catch moviegoers off guard. His comments confirm the next film will stick closely to the original novels, including a dramatic time jump. Find out what this means for the saga’s future.
Fans who haven’t read Frank Herbert’s Dune: Messiah are in for a shock when the third film arrives. Timothée Chalamet recently hinted that the upcoming installment will stay true to the source material, especially when it comes to the significant leap forward in time between the first book and Messiah. Speaking about the next chapter, set to hit theaters next year, Chalamet confirmed the story will follow the novel’s time jump.
Major Time Leap and Character Changes
Chalamet revealed,
There’s supposed to be a nice character shift. I’m playing 15, 20 years older.
While the original book features a 12-year gap, the film appears to extend that period even further. This adjustment likely helps sidestep the awkward aspects of Alia’s relationship with Duncan Idaho, since she’s only in her mid-teens during Messiah. By aging the characters up by 15 to 20 years, the filmmakers can avoid these issues, which also sheds light on Anya Taylor-Joy’s casting as Alia.
Looking at the franchise ’s track record, the first two movies have been both critical and box office successes. The original Dune scored an 8 on IMDb and pulled in over $410 million, while Dune: Part Two raised the bar with an 8.5 rating and nearly $715 million at the box office.
Staying True to the Books
After the way Dune: Part Two wrapped up, some fans wondered if director Denis Villeneuve might take creative liberties with Messiah, given its controversial reputation among readers. But Villeneuve has made it clear he intends to honor Herbert’s vision for the third film.
For example, the sequel ’s ending shows Chani riding a sandworm, rather than echoing Lady Jessica’s line, “While we, Chani, we who carry the name of concubine — history will call us wives,” from the book. Villeneuve explained that this wasn’t a major departure, saying,
It’s not that different. At the end of the book, Chani’s heart is broken, and it’s the beginning of the holy war.
Chalamet’s recent statements reinforce that the adaptation will remain faithful, promising unexpected twists for those unfamiliar with the novels.
Paul’s Transformation and What’s Ahead
Herbert wrote Messiah partly out of frustration with readers who misunderstood his message. Instead of seeing Paul as a warning against charismatic leaders, many fans viewed him as a classic hero. Chalamet’s comments suggest that audiences who saw Paul as a straightforward protagonist in the first two films are in for a surprise.
While Paul isn’t portrayed as a villain in the books, Chalamet teased a major shift in his character as he takes on the role of emperor. Fans can also expect to see a new look for Paul, including a different hairstyle, which Chalamet admitted he wasn’t thrilled about.
You know, your hair, weirdly we’re all attached [to our hair]. It’s kind of like our personalities, these follicles that grow out of our heads
With Villeneuve at the helm, the final chapter promises to deliver a powerful ending to Paul’s journey.
Dune: Part 3 is set to premiere in the U.S. on December 18.