‘Dune: Part Three’ Trailer: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa and Sandworms Return for Denis Villeneuve’s Epic Finale

Denis Villeneuve and Timothée Chalamet unveiled the most extensive look yet at ‘Dune: Part Three,’ teasing a darker, more action-packed final chapter inspired by Frank Herbert’s ‘Dune Messiah.’

Denis Villeneuve is bringing ‘Dune’ back to the desert, and the first major look at ‘Dune: Part Three’ makes one thing clear: Paul Atreides’ reign is no victory lap.

Villeneuve and Timothée Chalamet unveiled a new action-heavy trailer for the highly anticipated final chapter in the filmmaker’s ‘Dune’ trilogy during a global IMAX fan event in Los Angeles. The event was simulcast in Chicago, Dallas, Toronto, Montreal, London, Berlin, Mexico City and Abu Dhabi, giving fans around the world a first look at the next evolution of Paul’s journey.

The trailer, along with an extended clip from the film, will also screen ahead of IMAX 70mm presentations of Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey.’

‘Dune: Part Three’ picks up 17 years after the events of ‘Dune: Part Two,’ with Chalamet returning as Paul Atreides after his rise to imperial power. Inspired by Frank Herbert’s ‘Dune Messiah,’ the film explores the consequences of Paul’s rule as emperor, and the new footage suggests a far darker, more unstable chapter for the character.

“The future has a way of talking to me,” Paul says in the trailer. “I can’t see what’s ahead.”

That uncertainty seems to define the new film. Paul, once guided by terrifying visions of what might come, appears increasingly shaken by the violence and political fallout he has unleashed. Villeneuve has previously described the third installment as more action-packed and tense than the earlier films, while also calling it the most personal entry in the trilogy. Based on the trailer, that personal conflict is centered on Paul’s power, guilt and fractured relationship with Chani.

Zendaya returns as Chani, whose romance with Paul was left in a deeply complicated place after his political marriage to Princess Irulan, played by Florence Pugh. The new footage puts more emphasis on Chani’s emotional position within the story, including her desire for a child and the lingering consequences of Paul’s choices.

Robert Pattinson joins the franchise as Scytale, a shapeshifter and new adversary who wants to strike at the heart of Paul’s empire. “We plan to strike the core of imperial power,” Scytale says in the trailer, making clear that his mission is nothing less than regime change.

The trailer also brings back one of the franchise’s most beloved warriors in a startling new form. Jason Momoa returns as Duncan Idaho, who died defending Paul and Lady Jessica, played by Rebecca Ferguson, but has now been resurrected as a ghola. In the new footage, Duncan is sent to Paul as a “gift” from Scytale, setting up one of the trailer’s most charged exchanges.

“I think you’re way beyond redemption,” Duncan tells Paul.

“Why are you here?” Paul asks.

“To deliver a peace proposal?” Duncan replies.

“Peace is a good thing. Why should I refuse?”

“Because it’s meant to destroy you.”

The exchange points directly to the moral crisis at the heart of ‘Dune Messiah.’ During the post-trailer Q&A, Chalamet discussed how Herbert used the sequel to complicate the heroic reading of Paul Atreides, describing the story as a warning about charismatic leaders and the corrupting force of power.

“I read somewhere that it’s why he wrote ‘Messiah’ as a follow-up [because] people mistook Paul as a classic hero,” Chalamet said. “And he wanted to warn the world what can happen when people blindly follow leaders, and that even the good can be corrupted.”

Chalamet also praised Zendaya’s performance in the new film while discussing how Paul and Chani’s relationship evolves after his betrayal and marriage to Irulan. He noted that Villeneuve takes more creative liberty in this installment, weaving in storylines that were not explicit in the book but help bring the emotional arc together.

“Zendaya, as you can see in [the new trailer], gives such a fantastic performance,” Chalamet said.

Returning cast members include Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem and Pugh, whose role as Princess Irulan expands in the new film. Anya Taylor-Joy also reprises her role as Alia Atreides, Paul’s sister and devoted follower. Chalamet singled out Taylor-Joy during the event, calling her “breathtaking” and “unbelievable” in the movie, adding, “She is actually terrifying and amazing.”

New additions include Pattinson as Scytale and Isaach de Bankolé as one of Paul’s former Fedaykin death commandos.

While the cast remains one of the franchise’s biggest strengths, Chalamet reserved some of his highest praise for Villeneuve, who has guided the trilogy from its first chapter through this final installment.

“He could’ve taken years in between these projects. Instead, he buckled in, and we got it done right away,” Chalamet said. “I am a huge fan of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy and I can’t imagine the last time someone knocked out three things so consecutively. I am so grateful for Denis. In Denis we trust.”

Villeneuve, reflecting on the decade-long journey of bringing Herbert’s saga to the screen, joked that he would tell his younger self to “sleep as much as you can,” before turning more emotional.

“It was the privilege of my life to work with all of you,” Villeneuve told Chalamet.

The fan event ended with Chalamet revealing that one audience member in each theater would find an envelope under their seat granting access to a private screening of ‘Dune: Part Three’ when the film opens.

‘Dune: Part Three’ hits theaters Dec. 18.

Joanthan P. Moustakas

Jonathan P. Moustakas founded The Cinema Group in 2020 during the challenges of the pandemic, after losing the vital ability to find community in theaters and escape through the captivating magic of cinema. Feeling profoundly cut off from the vibrant film community he cherished, he sought to create a welcoming home for dedicated cinema fans while providing engaging, daily curated content that resonates with their passions. Years later, The Cinema Group has blossomed from a small collective of loyal fans into a thriving brand that reaches millions of audiences every month across a diverse array of platforms and mediums.

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