Aquaman star Jason Momoa has shared some *very* exciting news! He’ll officially be going back to the “Dune” franchise, as he’ll be returning to the role of Duncan Idaho for the saga’s third installment. Scheduled for release in 2026, this film is a sequel to “Dune” and “Dune: Part Two.” Although the title “Dune: Messiah” has not been officially confirmed, many fans are eager to see how the story unfolds.
The narrative of the third film will take place 12 years after the events depicted in “Dune: Part Two.” Momoa’s interview with Craig Melvin on March 31, 2024 may have been an aberration. He jokingly added, “You heard it first, right here with you, baby! You could hear the twinkle in his eyes as he spoke about reprising the legendary role including after Duncan Idaho’s demise from the first film.
Momoa’s character did not appear in “Dune: Part Two,” but his return suggests a new direction for the franchise. The goofball actor previously teased that this new sequel would be “something really different” than the earlier films.
Denis Villeneuve, director of the series helped illuminate the film’s timeline. He continued, “The story is set something like 12 years after exactly the point where we left our characters at the end of Part Two. This time jump presents opportunities for character development and plot progression that could surprise even those familiar with Frank Herbert’s original book series.
In addition to Momoa, a few other core characters will be making their return. Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh and Anya Taylor-Joy will be joining him in returning to their characters. The fan-favorite sandworms are back, too, and they remain key to the franchise’s mesmerizing world.
That epic saga was inspired by Herbert’s own six-part book collection published between 1965 and 1985. The films have won a number of awards, notably worldwide critical appreciation for their visual storytelling and narrative fidelity to J.R.R. As anticipation builds for the third movie, fans are eager to witness how Villeneuve adapts the intricate narrative and beloved characters.