Dune: Part Threeisn’tDenis Villeneuve’s most exciting sci-fi movie in the making, but a $7.8 billion franchise stands in its way.Villeneuve has solidified himselfas one of the best sci-fi filmmakers working today withArrival(2016),Blade Runner 2049(2017), but most importantly,Dune. His two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal sci-fi novel made a combined $1.15 billion globally and earned him two Oscar nominations for Best Picture.
Following the critical and commercial success of his two-part adaptation ofDune, the visionary director is now adapting the second novel in the series,Dune Messiah. The film will feature the return of Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, Zendaya as Chani, Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, and Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho.
Two new cast members have officially been added – Nakoa-Wolf Momoa as Leto II Atreides and Ida Brooke as Ghanima Atreides. Robert Pattinson was also reportedly in talks for the role of the villain Scytale.Dune: Part Threeis incredibly excitingbecause of how different it will be from the first two films, but also because it could launch Villeneuve’sDuneamong the greatest sci-fi trilogies of all time.
Just beforeDune: Part Threestarted filming earlier this month, it was announced that Villeneuve was hired to directJames Bond 26for Amazon MGM Studios. WhileVilleneuve has another sci-fi movie in the making that might be more exciting thanDune: Part Three, the James Bond franchise stands in its way.
Rendezvous With Rama Is Villeneuve’s Most Exciting Sci-Fi Movie
It’s Based On The Book By Arthur C. Clarke
Denis Villeneuve’sRendezvous with Ramamight arguably be even more exciting thanDune: Part Three. The 1973 sci-fi novel was written by Arthur C. Clarke, who co-wrote one of thebest sci-fi movies of all timein Stanley Kubrick’s2001: A Space Odyssey. Additionally,Rendezvous with Ramaplays perfectly to Villeneuve’s strengths as a filmmaker – atmosphere, awe, and philosophical depth.
Clarke craftedRendezvous with Ramaas a slow-burning mystery driven by grandeur and intellectual curiosity –elements Villeneuve excels at visualizing. Set in the 2130s, the story follows a team of human explorers as they investigate a vast cylindrical alien starship, 31 miles long and 12 miles wide, that silently enters our Solar System.
As the team ventures inside, they confront an eerie and uninhabited world of mechanical ecosystems and unknown purpose. The novel won both the Hugo and Nebula awards and is a cornerstone of Clarke’s legacy. With Villeneuve’s touch,it could become a cinematic sci-fi classic.
Rendezvous With Rama Is Unlikely To Happen For A Long Time
Villeneuve Has Dune: Part Three & James Bond
Villeneuve’s schedule is stacked, making his most tantalizing sci-fi adaptation unlikely to lift off anytime soon.
Despite the perfect alignment between Villeneuve’s style and Clarke’s visionary novel,Rendezvous with Ramaremains stalled behind a crowded production slate. WithDune: Part Three,James Bond 26, and potentially multiple 007 movies ahead, plus passion projects likeCleopatraandNuclear War: A Scenario,Villeneuve’s schedule is stacked, making his most tantalizing sci-fi adaptation unlikely to lift off anytime soon.
Dune: Part Threeis scheduled to be released on July 10, 2025, followed by James Bond 26 expected in 2028.
