Timothée Chalamet Drops Key Dune 3 Plot Bombshell

Fans who haven’t tackled Frank Herbert’s Dune: Messiah are in for a shock when the third film lands. Timothée Chalamet, in a recent chat, made it clear the next chapter will stick closely to the original books. He confirmed the film will include the significant time leap found between the first novel and Messiah, saying on The Graham Norton Show:

There’s supposed to be a nice character shift. I’m playing 15, 20 years older.

While the book jumps ahead by 12 years, the film’s even longer gap seems designed to sidestep the awkwardness around Alia’s relationship with a revived Duncan Idaho. Since Alia is about 14-16 in Messiah, stretching the timeline by 15-20 years helps avoid any controversy, which also lines up with Anya Taylor-Joy being cast as Alia.

Staying True to Herbert’s Vision

After the ending of the second film, some punters thought Denis Villeneuve might veer away from Messiah because of its mixed reputation. But the director has said he’s committed to Herbert’s original story for the third outing.

For those who noticed the change in Chani’s final scene—riding a sandworm instead of hearing Lady Jessica’s words about concubines and wives—Villeneuve explained this wasn’t a major departure from the book’s intent:

It’s not that different. At the end of the book, Chani’s heart is broken, and it’s the beginning of the holy war.

Chalamet’s comments back up the idea that the adaptation will be faithful, so anyone unfamiliar with the source material should brace themselves for some unexpected twists.

What Chalamet’s Reveal Means for Paul

Herbert wrote Messiah partly out of frustration with readers who saw Paul as a straightforward hero, missing the author’s warning about the dangers of charismatic leaders. If Chalamet’s hints are anything to go by, those expecting Paul to stay the hero will be caught off guard.

Paul’s not painted as a villain, but there’s a major shift in his character after he becomes emperor. Chalamet also mentioned a change in Paul’s hairstyle, which he wasn’t too thrilled about:

You know, your hair, weirdly we’re all attached [to our hair]. It’s kind of like our personalities, these follicles that grow out of our heads

With Villeneuve at the helm, who’s made a name for himself as one of the top directors around, it looks like Paul’s story is set for a memorable finish.

Box Office and Release Details

The first two films have done well with both critics and at the box office. The original scored 8 on IMDb and pulled in over $410 million, while the sequel upped the ante with an 8.5 rating and more than $700 million in takings. The third instalment is set to hit cinemas on 18 December in the US.

Keen to see how it all wraps up? Let us know what you reckon below.