Following the incredible box office and critical success ofDune: Part Two, it’s no wonder that Denis Villeneuve has suddenly shifted his properties and commitment to getting the next installment of the series adapted for the big screen. Frank Herbert’s series of novels tell an expansive story that spans centuries, though Villeneuve seems intent on finishing his interpretation of the story withDune: Messiah, the second book in the series. To that end, the production team involved with bringing the first two films to life is slowly coming back together. One such significant contributor is Hans Zimmer, the composer of the movies, who has now provided an incredibly exciting update on theDune: Messiahadaptation.
While speaking to host Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Zimmer discussed things such as his score forDune: Part Twobeingdisqualified from the Academy Awardsand his other work and creative collaborative process with Villeneuve. From there, the conversation shifted to Zimmer’s future work onDune: Messiah, with the composer revealing that he believes the project is moving along faster than some might think. He said, “I talk to Denis every day. Yes, it’s happening sooner rather than later.”
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This small but significant update only reaffirms various reports and what Villeneuve has said about his work on the film. Initially, the director had put other projects at the forefront of his schedule, such as an adaptation of Annie Jacobsen’s bookNuclear War: A Scenarioand aCleopatraproject. However, given the Dune films' cultural impact, now thatDune: Messiahis being discussed between Zimmer and Villeneuve, Paul Atreides' story may have taken precedence over everything else.
‘Dune: Messiah’ Is Denis Villeneuve’s Next Film
Reports from trade outlets like The Hollywood Reporter have alsoindicated thatDune: Messiahwill be shooting during the Summer of 2025, with their Heat Vision blog post detailing a shooting date overlapping withSpider-Man 4. Overall, it’s been a surprising turn of events with the film being made sooner than most fans would have initially thought. In an interview with Collider, theDunedirector would talk about how he was moved by the fan response to his first twoDunefilms, making him feel that this is an obligation he needs to follow through on as soon as possible:
I was expecting to do something else before, but frankly, that’s the inspiration that came to my mind as I took a break this summer and was going back and finishing the story. I was really moved by the way ‘Part Two’ was received by cinephiles around the world, and I felt an appetite and a desire to see more and a responsibility to finish that story."
WhileDune: Messiahis a much smaller book in comparison to the original novel, it’s still a thematically heavy piece with plenty of moving pieces. Villeneuve has his work cut out for him, and it will be exciting to see what creative decisions he and other people involved in the production, such as Zimmer, make to evolve the world ofDunefurther and depict the struggle of Paul Atreides now that he is in a position of massive power and influence.
Sources:Happy Sad Confused,THR,Collider
Dune: Part Three
