The first trailer for Dune: Part Three has arrived, offering a sweeping look at the final installment of Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi trilogy and a significantly darker turn for Paul Atreides. Debuted one day after the 2026 Oscars, the footage places Timothée Chalamet’s character in a vastly different position: no longer a rising messiah, but a ruler facing the consequences of absolute power.
Set 17 years after the events of Dune: Part Two, the film follows Paul as emperor, grappling with political unrest, personal sacrifice and a growing resistance to his rule. Zendaya returns as Chani, now the mother of Paul’s child, while Florence Pugh’s Princess Irulan becomes more central to the unfolding power struggle. Anya Taylor Joy also figures heavily in the trailer as Paul’s preternaturally gifted sister Alia, whose role will be key in the incoming war Paul is starting.
Another standout reveal is Robert Pattinson as Scytale, a mysterious shapeshifter positioned as the film’s primary antagonist. He appears in a brief but striking appearance — complete with a stark physical transformation that exudes danger.
Returning cast members include Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem and Jason Momoa, whose character Duncan Idaho appears despite his earlier death, aligning with developments from Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah, the novel that serves as the film’s basis.
Villeneuve, who directs and co-wrote the screenplay, has described the third film as a more intimate and psychological story compared to its predecessors, even as the scale of the conflict expands.
Produced by Legendary Pictures and distributed by Warner Bros., Dune: Part Three is positioned as the conclusion to the trilogy that began in 2021. The film is set for theatrical release on Dec. 18, 2026, including IMAX screens.