Dune: Part Threeis setting up a sci-fi battle of epic proportions with Lucasfilm’s latestStar Warsproject, but it remains to be seen if the contest, which has been 47 years in the making, will actually pan out. The third installment in director Denis Villeneuve’s planned trilogy,Dune 3will continue Paul Atreides' (Timothée Chalamet) story by pulling from Frank Herbert’s sequels. Not too much is known about Villeneuve’s ideas for the film, other than that it will forge ahead fromDune 2’s ending. Still, it is widely believed thatDune: Messiahwill serve as the source material.
However,Dune 3isn’t the only entry in an epic sci-fi saga that’s on the horizon. AlthoughStar Warshas concluded the nine-partSkywalker Saga, which began in 1977 with the release of George Lucas’Star Wars: Episode IV—A New Hope, Lucasfilm has several films waiting in the wings. In the wake ofStar Wars: Episode IX—The Rise of Skywalker, the studio shifted its focus to creating live-action and animated TV series for Disney+.Star Wars' return to theaters is inevitable, though, especially withThe Mandalorian & GroguandStar Wars: New Jedi Orderin the works.
10 Most Exciting Things To Expect From Dune 3
Dune 3 is confirmed to be in development. Based on information from the novels, here are the main plot details and cast changes to be excited about.
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune 3 Currently Looks Set To Share A Release Date With Star Wars
December 2026 Could Become A Dune Vs. Star Wars Box Office Battle
Although not 100% confirmed by Warner Bros. yet, an IMAX presentation teased thata new Denis Villeneuve movie will be premiering in theaters on July 27, 2025. Given the timeframe, the film in question is widely expected to beDune 3. Excitingly,Villeneuve’sDune 3script updatesupports the idea that the third entry in the filmmaker’s blockbuster trilogy could be released as early as 2026. There’s a slim possibility that the release date isn’t forDune: Part Three, namely becauseDune: Messiahis set 12 years after the events of Herbert’s first book in his sprawling sci-fi series.
Meanwhile,Lucasfilm and its parent entity, The Walt Disney Company, have staked out three release datesin the coming years. As fate would have it, one of those release dates also happens to be August 13, 2025. BothThe Mandalorian & Grogu, Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni’s big-screenMandaloriancontinuation, andStar Wars: New Jedi Order, which marks the return of Daisy Ridley’s Rey Skywalker, are slated for 2026, though it’s not yet clear which film will be released first. Of course, it’s probably safe to say that one of these tentpole movies will snag the holiday release window.
Is Paul Atreides A Villain Or A Hero? Dune 2 Settles The 59-Year-Old Debate
Dune: Part Two finally settles the 59-year-old debate over Frank Herbert’s Dune protagonist Paul Atreides — and whether he’s a villain or a hero.
How Dune vs. Star Wars Is A Battle That’s 47 Years In The Making
Dune & Star Wars Have Influenced Each Other & Shaped The Sci-Fi Genre
The potentialDuneversusStar Warsbox office battle has been 47 years in the making, which could lend a lot of excitement to 2026’s sci-fi spin on the Barbenheimer phenomenon. It’s nearly impossible to nameeverythingStar Warstook fromDune, butGeorge Lucas has been open about just how much Herbert’s seminal sci-fi epic influenced his own space opera. As evidenced by the prequel trilogy, Anakin Skywalker’s (Hayden Christensen) hero-to-villain arc shares a lot of DNA with Paul Atreides' tragic story. However, this exchange of ideas isn’t a one-way hyperlane by any means.
Although he had Herbert’s novels to pull from for content, Villeneuve’sDunemovies are influenced by Star Wars.
While Lucas may have been inspired byFrank Herbert’sDunebooks, it’s clear thatStar Warscreated a lot of the visual language that’s now associated with sci-fi movies at large. Although he had Herbert’s novels to pull from for content,Villeneuve’s Dune movies are influenced by Star Wars. In fact, the filmmaker described his films as"Star Warsfor adults"at one point. From desert planets and mystical powers to chosen one-style prophecies, the epic stories both utilize sci-fi’s biggest tropes to great effect. All of this makes a potential box office battle more exciting.
Who Would Win Dune 3 vs. Star Wars' Battle?
Dune 3 Is In A Better Position But Star Wars Could Still Correct Course
While it’s impossible to predict how viewers will feel about the sci-fi franchises in two years' time, it seems more likely thatVilleneuve’sDune: Part Threewould win a box office battle. That might not have been true pre-Star Warssequel trilogy, but there’s no denying that interest inStar Warsmovies has waned, prompting Lucasfilm to pump the brakes and pivot to TV. Even thoughThe Rise of Skywalkergrossed a staggering $1.077 billionat the box office in 2019, it also capped off a nine-part saga, so much of that momentum was nostalgia-driven.
AlthoughDune 2’s box office gross didn’t eclipse $1 billion, it grossed an impressive $711.8 million against a budget a third of the size ofEpisode IX’s. In 2024’s movie landscape,Dune: Part Twowas a top-grossing flick, until the release of Disney-backed movies likeDeadpool & WolverineandInside Out 2. IfThe Mandalorian & Grogu, which is expected to hit theaters in May 2026, replicates its season one streaming success and becomes a huge hit,anyStar Warsfollow-up in December 2026 would be better positioned to toppleDune 3’s box office might.
Star Wars' New Movie Is Returning To The Entire Point Of A New Hope After 47 Years
The Mandalorian & Grogu movie will return to A New Hope’s Star Wars formula in a thrilling way, promising an excellent addition to Star Wars movies.
Why Dune Vs. Star Wars Probably Won’t Happen
Warner Bros. & Disney Might Not Want To Take The Risk
Even though it would be incredibly thrilling, aDunevs.Star Warsbox office battle probably isn’t in the cards. So far, Villeneuve seems on track with his script, but there’s also a lot of material for him to tackle, especially consideringhow Frank Herbert’sDunebooks end. The movie-making industry at large has seen plenty of disruptions in recent years, including 2023’s dual strikes. These unpredictable events could easily derail a planned movie release. However,the biggest variable is probably Lucasfilm, which doesn’t have a good track record of delivering movies on timeor sticking to release dates.
[The]Barbievs.Oppenheimermatch-up of 2023 proved that competition could yield incredible box office results…
Since Disney and Lucasfilm haven’t confirmed which films will be attached to their proposed 2026 release dates, and sincethe current schedule means Lucasfilm would need to churn out twoStar Warsfilms in the same year, it feels more likely that one of the projects will need to be pushed back. Even if the upcomingStar WarsmoviesandDune 3stay on track, and even if Villeneuve’s movie and one of Lucasfilm’s are initially confirmed for that December release date, there’s no way the projects will actually face off at the box office.
Although theBarbievs.Oppenheimermatch-up of 2023 proved that competition could yield incredible box office results, it’s a much trickier sell withDune 3andStar Wars. Since the movies are both sci-fi epics,it’s likely that a dual release would hurt both franchises to some degree. That said, if Warner Bros. and Disney both gun for the same release date, it will likely turn into a game of chicken until one of the sci-fi blockbusters is moved.
Dune: Part Three
Dune: Part Three continues the epic saga with Paul Atreides as Emperor Muad’Dib facing threats from political adversaries and internal betrayal. Amidst the turmoil, the stability of House Atreides is jeopardized, while Paul grapples with protecting his lover, Chani, and their unborn child from emerging perils.
