Denis Villeneuve's next feature film has had its release date confirmed, with speculation over whether it could be Dune 3.
Warner Bros announced on Friday (June 28) that the filmmaker's next "event film" will hit cinemas in December 2026 (via Deadline).
The site reports that sources have confirmed the film comes from Legendary Entertainment, the production company that released the previous Dune films.
Details of the upcoming film's plot are being kept under wraps.
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The news of a possible Dune 3 release date comes after Legendary Entertainment's CEO Josh Grode confirmed a third film could get the green light if Villeneuve "gets the script right".
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Following Dune: Part Two's box-office success earlier this year, Grode told CNBC: "I think everybody is very excited and really enjoying this moment, and if Denis gets the script right and he feels that he can deliver another experience on par with what we've just completed, then I don't see why not."
He added: "We have to have all creative stakeholders aligned and support the vision."
During a recent chat with Digital Spy, Villeneuve also teased the next Dune film, saying the threequel is "in early stages".
"We are in early stages. We are in the right direction," the filmmaker confirmed.
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"There's a lot of work that has been done, but there's a lot of work that needs to be done in order to have something solid to shoot."
Dune: Part Two, which is based on the second half of the sci-fi novel Dune by Frank Herbert, has grossed a staggering $711.8 million globally since its debut in March.
The film's box-office sales have since been surpassed by Inside Out 2, which has raked in $724 million globally. The Pixar film has now become the biggest movie of the year, with it set to cross $1 billion in the coming weeks.
Dune: Part Two is available to buy or rent in the UK from Prime Video, iTunes, Microsoft Store and more.
Sara is an entertainment journalist who specialises in TV and film. After studying journalism at the University of Roehampton, Sara joined Digital Spy in 2023, writing news (and the occasional feature) on all things entertainment. She has also written for the culture desk at The Evening Standard. A lover of all things TV and film, Sara can wax lyrical about everything from Bridgerton to The Witcher. She can also recite entire episodes of New Girl, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Parks and Recreation. In her spare time, Sara loves to knit, crochet and cross-stitch. Also a musical theatre aficionado, Sara counts Samantha Barks as one of her heroes and is a loyal fan of Jodie Comer.
