The filmmaker has also sealed a deal with Legendary to develop an adaptation of 'Nuclear War: A Scenario', which he will work on after completing 'Dune: Messiah'.
- Apr 5, 2024
AceShowbiz - Denis Villeneuve is set to make a trip back to the deserts. Fresh of the box office success of his epic sci-fi sequel "Dune: Part Two", the director is reportedly developing a third "Dune" movie for Legendary Pictures.
According to reports, the filmmaker is working with Legendary for "Dune: Messiah", which will serve as the conclusion of the trilogy. The upcoming installment will be based on the second book in Frank Herbert's six "Dune" novels.
The project is revealed as Villeneuve has reportedly signed a new deal with Legendary to develop an adaptation of Pulitzer Prize finalist Annie Jacobsen's nonfiction book "Nuclear War: A Scenario". The studio recently nabbed the rights to the book in a deal worth $500,000 against $1.5 million, Deadline reported.
The deal is revealed as "Nuclear War" hits the New York Times bestseller lists. Released on March 26, the book "explores a ticking-clock scenario about what would happen in the event of a nuclear war, based on dozens of exclusive new interviews with military and civilian experts who built the weapons and have been privy to the response plans and have been responsible for those decisions should they have needed to be made."
The plan is for Villeneuve to work on this giant project after he completes "Dune 3". The filmmaker previously revealed he would love to make a trilogy, with the third movie based on Herbert's "Dune Messiah". He told Empire, "If I succeed in making a trilogy, that would be the dream. I will say, there are words on paper [for a third film]."
"I always envisioned three movies," Villeneuve additionally told EW. "It's not that I want to do a franchise, but this is 'Dune', and 'Dune' is a huge story. In order to honor it, I think you would need at least three movies. That would be the dream. To follow Paul Atreides and his full arc would be nice."
While the cast has not been confirmed, Zendaya Coleman has expressed interest in reprising her role for a third "Dune" movie. "Would we be down? I mean of course. Anytime Denis calls it's a yes from me, at least. I'm excited to see what happens," she told Fandango.
She added, "I started 'Messiah' and I was like, 'Woah, I'm only shooting the first movie. Let me just go back to the first one.' It's so much to take in, and I think there's no better hands with better care and love for it than him [Villeneuve]."
The Emmy-winning actress said she would be ready whenever Villeneuve calls her. "I'm just excited to see ... It's just anticipation. Whenever he is ready," she said of the director. "I know he's a perfectionist in many ways and doesn't want to share things unless he's fully ready to do that. So [I'm] respecting that and waiting until he's ready."
