Dune Part 3 is still eight months away, but the opening scene has been debuted – and it’s being compared to a Steven Spielberg classic.
Denis Villeneuve’s new film follows the events from the first sequel, which ended with Paul Atreides overthrowing the Emperor, claiming the throne and setting a Fremen-led holy war in motion across the galaxy.
Part three starts 17 years later, with Paul in power and, according to lead star Timothée Chalamet, fully into “his worst vision”. Case in point, Jason Momoa’s character Duncan Idaho tells him in the new seven-minute long footage: “You have conquered the galaxy. You have destroyed thousands of worlds. I think you are way beyond redemption.”
But the majority of the footage shows Javier Bardem’s Stilgar leading the Fremen into war, with those in attendance comparing the battle sequence to the blistering opening of Spielberg’s 1998 film Saving Private Ryan.
“Saw the first seven minutes of DUNE: PART 3. Safe to say SAVING PRIVATE RYAN is an influencer,” journalist Sean Fennessy wrote on X/Twitter, with Deadpool creator Rob Liefield adding: “We saw the first seven minutes of Dune 3 at #cinemacon. It was Denis channeling Saving Private Ryan in space. Gripping and bleak! The most incredible visuals I’ve seen in forever. Outstanding!”
Saving Private Ryan’s Omaha Beach scene, which cost $11m (£9.6m) and used 1,000 extras, is considered the benchmark for action filmmaking.
Villeneuve said that Dune: Part 3 will be an outright thriller as opposed to the previous two films, telling the crowd at CinemaCon: “I didn’t want to walk in my own footsteps. I wanted to do something new. It’s more action-packed, faster-paced, and more emotional.”
The new film introduces Robert Pattinson as the shapeshifting villain Scytale. In Frank Herbert’s books, Scytale is a Tleilaxu Face Dancer – a genetically engineered shapeshifter and master manipulator who plays a central role in a conspiracy to overthrow Emperor Paul Atreides.
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The forthcoming movie also sees the return of Zendaya (Chani), Rebecca Ferguson (Lady Jessica), Florence Pugh (Irulan), Anya Taylor-Joy (Alia Atreides ) and Isaach De Bankolé (Farok).
Dune premiered in 2021 and adapted the first portion of Herbert’s 1965 book, Dune. Part Two followed in 2024, covering the remainder of the best-selling book’s story. Part Three is based on the second title in Herbert’s original Dune series, Dune Messiah.
Dune: Part 3 is out in cinemas on 18 December – the same day as forthcoming Avengers film Doomsday.
