An update aboutDune 3confirms thatWarner Bros. has plans to expand the franchiseinto a cinematic universe just before the new prequel series begins. After the enormous critical and commercial success of 2024’sDune 2,production onDune 3has been confirmedsooner than anyone expected. This will bring the events of Frank Herbert’s sequel novel,Dune Messiah, to life on the big screen, with much of the cast reprising their roles. With this book being adapted, questions have been raised about the franchise’s future.
The prequel seriesDune: Prophecywill air on HBOin November 2024, showing the world 10,000 years before the events of the films. Given Warner Bros.’s recent desire to expand many of their marquee titles, such as DC orHarry Potter, into multimedia franchises, it’s no surprise that the world ofDuneis being explored in television. The show is onlythe first step in continuing to expand theDuneuniverse, with more books by Frank Herbert and extensive lore material from Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson to dive into.
Dune 3 Setting Up Future Dune Movies Copies The Cinematic Universe Playbook
Dune 3 Will Set Up More Sequels, Even Without Denis Villeneuve There To Direct Them
Speaking aboutDune 3toVanity Fair,Denis Villeneuve explainsthat he isn’t planning on remaining with the franchise forever. He’s already committed years of his career to Arrakis, and he’s laid the aesthetic and narrative foundation for more to follow. On what he intends to be his final contribution to the saga,Villeneuve intends to “make sure that, in Messiah, there are the seeds in the project if someone wants to do something else afterwards.“So, even though Villeneuve wouldn’t be returning forChildren of Duneor later books, he’ll be setting up room for them.
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune Franchise Update Is The Best & Worst Possible Future
Denis Villeneuve provided a significant update regarding the future of the Dune movie franchise, and its both the best and worst possible outcome.
With prominent franchises like Marvel and Star Wars telling their long-form narratives through both film and television, it’s become increasingly common for major franchises to want to copy this formula. Having recognizable franchise titles is helpful enough in bringing viewers to theaters, but telling a grander, weaving story through multiple mediums is even more compelling.Dune 3leaving threads open for more stories in the franchise shows that Warner Bros. intends to keep this saga going for as long as they can, and it will be interesting to see how it takes form with new stars and creatives in charge.
Dune’s Success Made A Cinematic Universe Inevitable
Dune Was An Enormous Cultural & Commercial Success
The firstDunefilm wasn’t a tremendous success, but it grossed enough in theaters to merit a sequel and continued to accumulate popularity in between installments. The use of a young, all-star cast, including Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya, and the sequel’s additions of Austin Butler and Florence Pugh generated a vast young audience for the series.Dune 2was more than just a blockbuster movie;its release was a cultural phenomenon, surging across social media with memes and discussion as the box office numbers climbedand introduced millions of new readers to Frank Herbert’s original novels.
Dune 2was more than just a blockbuster movie; its release was a cultural phenomenon
After that, it would be foolish for Warner Bros.notto continue exploring the series. The originalDunenovel is considered Herbert’s most prolific work and arguably the saga’s peak, butthere’s still a wealth of great storytelling to be mined from his sequels and the expansion books if the right production team is involved. Warner Bros. has only to keep bringing the right creative teams on board to continue makingDunean exciting saga, and book lovers and fresh audiences will continue to tune in.Dune: Prophecyshould be a major indicator of what the franchise’s future will look like.
Dune: Prophecy Will Help Expand The Dune Cinematic Universe
The HBO Series Is Set 10,000 Years Before Dune
Dune: Prophecywill be aboutthe rise of the Bene Gesserit, forming around the central Kwisatz Haderach prophecy of theDunemovies. In terms of premise, it sounds a lot like the concept of Amazon Prime’sThe Rings of Powerin how it corresponds to the story ofThe Lord of the Rings, asit will explore how events from thousands of years prior to the movies shaped what the world would eventually become.Prophecywill lay the foundation for the Bene Gesserit’s role inDuneand how their multi-millennia selective breeding plan began.
The Wait For Dune 3 Is Agonizing After A Denis Villeneuve Sequel Promise That’s Very Hard To Deliver On
Waiting for Dune: Part Three was already hard enough after the incredible success of Dune: Part Two, but Denis Villeneuve just made it way worse.
IfDune: Prophecyreaches the critical acclaim and viewership HBO hopes for, there will undoubtedly be more spinoffs to follow. Having the first TV series tie directly to the plot of the movies is a wise choice, similar to what HBO did withHouse of the Dragon, establishing a sense of familiarity.From there, they’ll be free to dive deeper into theDunefranchise, especially withDune 3likely exploring a bit more of the weirdness of Frank Herbert’s world.
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.
