Denis Villeneuve expresses that creating a third ‘Dune’ movie would be his ultimate aspiration.

The second installment in the franchise from the director is scheduled for release in March 2024.

In an interview with Empire Magazine, Denis Villeneuve, returning to Arrakis for Dune: Part Two, shared his hope of extending his journey within this universe. He expressed his desire to explore Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah in a potential third film if it were to receive approval.

Villeneuve stated, “If I manage to create a trilogy, that would be my ultimate goal.” He highlighted how Dune Messiah was a reaction to the perception of Paul Atreides as a hero, a concept Herbert didn’t intend, and how his adaptation of Dune aligns more closely with Herbert’s original notion of it being a cautionary tale.

Denis Villeneuve clarified that his involvement with the Dune series will conclude after the third installment, and he intends to explore different projects afterward. He stated, “After that, the books become more abstract,” hinting at the increasingly complex nature of the source material. Although the green light for a third film has not been granted yet, Villeneuve disclosed that there’s already a script in existence.

Dune 2 picks up the story from where the first film left off, with Paul Atreides, portrayed by Timothée Chalamet, reuniting with Chani, played by Zendaya, and uniting with the Fremen to combat the malevolent Harkonnens. Notable returning cast members include Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, and Dave Bautista. New additions to the cast include Austin Butler as Feyd Rautha, Christopher Walken as the Emperor, Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan Corrino, Léa Seydoux as Lady Margot, and Souheila Yacoub as Shishakli.

During the presentation of the trailer at CinemaCon in April, Villeneuve emphasized his efforts to ensure that Part Two offers a distinctive experience. He explained that while Part One is more contemplative, Part Two is an action-packed, epic war film, featuring entirely new locations and sets to avoid any sense of repetition.

Originally scheduled for release on November 3, 2024, Dune: Part Two’s premiere has been postponed to March 15, 2024, due to an ongoing actors’ strike that could limit the cast’s ability to promote the film.