Dune: Part Three Trailer Debuts Featuring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya
Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya appear in the first trailer for Dune: Part Three, the concluding installment of the sci-fi trilogy anticipated to be among the major blockbusters of 2026.
The upcoming film is set 17 years after the events of Dune: Part Two and explores the aftermath of Paul Atreides' ascension as galactic emperor.
The trailer showcases intense battles and interstellar warfare in Denis Villeneuve's production, scheduled for release on 18 December.
However, the film faces a significant box office challenge, as it shares its release date with the highly awaited Avengers: Doomsday.
The Marvel sequel to Avengers: Endgame will feature Robert Downey Jr. reprising his role as Doctor Doom and Chris Evans returning as Steve Rogers.
Every previous Avengers film has grossed over $1 billion worldwide, and studios typically avoid releasing competing films simultaneously.
Despite this, Dune: Part Three has secured IMAX screening rights for its opening weekend in the US, indicating no intention to change its release date.
Disney initially planned to release Avengers: Doomsday in May but postponed it to December to allow additional production time. Fans have nicknamed the anticipated box office competition "Dundesday."
Nevertheless, the release schedule could still change before December, potentially altering the clash.
Warner Bros unveiled the Dune: Part Three trailer shortly after the Oscars, where the studio celebrated success with two major winners: Sinners and One Battle After Another.
Launching the trailer serves as a demonstration of Warner Bros' strength and a strategy to maintain momentum amid uncertainty about the company's future.
Warner Bros is set to be acquired by Paramount in a deal valued at approximately $111 billion, following Netflix's withdrawal from a proposed purchase.
The first Dune film, released in 2021, earned $402 million globally, while 2024's Dune: Part Two performed even better with $714 million in worldwide box office revenue.
The forthcoming film will conclude the trilogy and is based on Frank Herbert's novel Dune Messiah.
What Happens in the Dune: Part Three Trailer?
The trailer opens with Paul Atreides (Chalamet) embracing his partner Chani (Zendaya). They discuss potential names for their child.
"If it's a girl, I would call her Ghanima," Atreides says, referencing a name from the fictional Fremen culture meaning "spoils of war."
Chani replies, "If it's a boy, I would name him Leto so that he would have the wisdom of his grandfather."
The trailer briefly shows a baby's head before cutting to Atreides clad in body armor, wielding a sword, accompanied by his voice stating:
"War feeds on itself."
Chanting is heard as scenes reveal Princess Irulan removing her cloak's hood. The chanting intensifies, leading into sequences of violence and combat, while Atreides whispers:
"I'm doing the best I can to protect my family."
The chanting ceases, returning to Atreides speaking with his mother, Lady Jessica, asking:
"How did father do it?"
She answers:
"Your father never started a war."
Who Else Stars in Dune: Part Three?
The trailer features Anya Taylor-Joy, known for The Queen's Gambit, joining the cast as Alia, Atreides' sister.
Jason Momoa, recognized for Game of Thrones, appears in a fight scene portraying Hayt, a resurrected version of Duncan Idaho, a character who died in the first film.
Javier Bardem, from Skyfall, reprises his role as Stilgar, leader of the Sietch Tabr, a significant Fremen community on the desert planet Arrakis.
Rebecca Ferguson returns as Lady Jessica, Atreides' mother, seen conversing with Chalamet's character in the trailer. Florence Pugh also reprises her role as Princess Irulan.
Robert Pattinson is shown with a platinum blond buzzcut, portraying Scytale, a new character aiming to dethrone Atreides.
Near the trailer's conclusion, Atreides climbs a plinth before a crowd, stating:
"I'm not afraid to die. But I must not die, yet."
The trailer ends with Chani running toward an unseen enemy before fading to black.
Text on screen reads:
"This December, experience the epic conclusion of the Dune trilogy."
