The sci-fi epicDune 2is coming off of a massive $82.5 million opening weekend and, following that box office supremacy, a recent update about the third film sounds especially promising. During an interview withCNBC, Legendary CEO Josh Grode expressed that if director Denis Villeneuve and his team write a great script forDune 3, aka Dune Messiah, they’re completely on board with continuing the franchise.
“We have to have all creative stakeholders aligned and support the vision. I think everybody is very excited and really enjoying this moment and if Denie [Villeneuve] 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.”
A month beforePart Two’srelease, Zendaya, who plays Chani in the film, also said shewould be more than ready to returnfor a third installment but only wants to do it when Villeneuve is ready to get it done.
“Would we be down? I mean of course. Any time Denis calls it’s a yes from me. I’m excited to see what happens. 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, but there’s no better hands with better care and love for it then Denis. I’m just excited to see…It’s just anticipation. Whenever he is ready. He’s a perfectionist in many ways and doesn’t want to share things until they’re ready. So I’m respecting that and waiting until he’s ready.”
Denis Villeneuve Doesn’t Want to Rush Making a Third Dune Film
Dune: Part Two
Villeneuvespoke about the notion ofDune 3earlier this year. The project would be adaptingDune Messiah, the second in Frank Herbert’sDuneseries of six novels. The director said at the time that the only way the film would be made by him is if the script was"tremendous."
“The longest thing and the most delicate moment; as Frank Herbert said at the beginning of Dune. Beginnings are very delicate times. It’s like screenwriting. Dune Messiah, which, Dune 3, the title would be Dune Messiah, we’ll see the day when the screenplay will be ready, and I want to make sure that there will be no compromise. It has to be tremendous. All is there to make the fantastic film, and I don’t want to mess it up.”
Dune 2 Director Shares Candid View on Movie’s Deleted Scenes: ‘It’s Dead For a Reason’
Dune: Part Two’s Denis Villeneuve has shut down the idea of the public ever seeing the movie’s many deleted scenes.
Dune: Part Twogave the box office much needed lifeover the weekend when it debuted to a domestic opening of $82.5 million and a global start of $182.5 million. The film received an “A” CinemaScore from opening day audiences, which paired nicely with its 93 percent Rotten Tomatoes score from critics and an even more robust 95 percent audience score on the site. Word of mouth is expected to carry the film in the coming weeks as pre-sales for IMAX showings continue to be strong, and the movie has made major strides with younger audiences as well.
Dune: Part Twois currently playing in theaters nationwide.
