TheDunefranchise, helmed by acclaimed directorDenis Villeneuve, has been a huge success for Warner Bros., and while a third movie is now in the works, the studio is unlikely to want this particular IP cash cow to end. With this in mind, a new rumor claims that a director is being sought forDune 4. And it’s a filmmaker well-known for big franchises…and even bigger monsters.
According to insiderDaniel Richtman,GodzilladirectorGareth Edwardsis now the top choice forDune 4, with Villeneuve having previously revealed that the third installment,Dune: Messiah, will be his final trip to Arrakis. Currently, this is just a rumor, so take it with a Godzilla-sized pinch of salt, but Edwards has become known for stepping into major franchises thanks to the likes ofGodzilla,Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,and this year’sJurassic World Rebirth. So, while his take on the seminal sci-fi story would likely be vastly different to that of Villeneuve, it makes sense why he’d be in the conversation surrounding a potentialDune 4.
Released in 2021, the firstDuneadapts the first half of Frank Herbert’s renowned novel, introducing audiences to Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, the young man destined to free the native people of the hostile planet Arrakis. Last year,Dune: Part Twocontinued the story, and was met with critical acclaim and several Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.
‘Dune: Messiah’ & ‘Dune 4’ Will Be Far More Difficult To Adapt for the Big Screen
A third movie,Dune: Messiah, is now in development, with the latest update revealing that the sequelwill begin filming much soonerthan expected. Per a report byDeadline,Dune 3’s production schedule was overheard, with the report reading, “As I make my way to see Charles Finch, our host, who’s sat next toThe Brutalist’sAdrien Brody, someone whispers in my ear that Denis Villeneuve will start filmingDune 3: Messiahthis June and not in 2026. This is news to both ears.”
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Released in 1969, the second novel, “Dune Messiah,” begins to lean more into hard science fiction. It is currently unknown how accurately Denis Villeneuve plans to adapt the book (he made several changes to the first novel in bringing it to screen), but has revealed that, like the source material, it will begin with a major time jump.
“The story takes place 12 years after where we left the characters at the end of Part Two. Their journey, their story is different this time, and that’s why I always say that while it’s the same world, it’s a new film with new circumstances.”
Dune 4would no doubt adapt the third novel, 1976’s “Children of Dune.” And while “Dune Messiah” starts to move towards more unusual elements…it has nothing on “Children of Dune”and beyond. While we await further updates onDune 4,Dune: Messiahis expected to be released on July 09, 2025. As for Gareth Edwards, the director will begin the next era of theJurassic Parkfranchise withJurassic World Rebirth, which is scheduled to be released by Universal Pictures on August 21, 2025.
Dune: Part Two
