Warner Bros. has released the first trailer for Dune: Part Three, the highly anticipated next chapter in Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic. Packed with striking new footage and a closer look at what lies ahead for Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), the trailer sets the stage for another visually stunning and emotionally charged return to Arrakis. To celebrate the release, the studio invited select journalists and influencers to a special event for an early look at the trailer, followed by a Q&A with Villeneuve and stars Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Javier Bardem.

Villeneuve described Dune: Part Three as a deliberate shift from the first two films, one driven less by nostalgia than by urgency. According to the director, the new chapter will have “a different tone, with a different rhythm, with a different pace,” adding that while the first film was more contemplative and the second played like a war movie, the third is a “thriller” that is more action-packed, more tense, and more muscular.

The evolution of storytelling is reflected in the story’s timeline as well. “There’s a time gap, 17 years, where we see Paul dealing with the consequences of having too much power, and him trying to figure out how to get out of this cycle of violence,” Villeneuve said.

Villeneuve said the film explores Paul’s choices as emperor, with the character “dealing with the consequences of having too much power” while “trying to figure out how to get out of this cycle of violence.” He added that the story follows those attempting to overthrow him.

Even with that intensity, Villeneuve stressed that the sequel remains grounded in emotion. “It’s still a love story,” he said. “The heartbeat of the film is still the relationship between Paul and Chani.”

While Dune: Part Three deals with the political fallout of Paul’s rise to power, Villeneuve made clear that the film remains grounded in the relationship at its center. He described it as “the story of Paul and Chani,” with the pair struggling under the burden of the world around them as Paul attempts to find a way out of the cycle of violence. That tension, he suggested, is what makes the film both epic in scale and deeply personal.

Villeneuve also pointed to the contradictions that come with power, suggesting Dune Part Three examines what happens when long-held ideals collide with reality. “Paul sees different realities of what being in power means after so long,” he said. “Paul is caught in that contradiction between loyalty to the idea he once strongly fought for and believed in, and the reality of what that idea has become.”

In regard to some of the other themes of the film, Bardem suggested that Stilgar’s arc reflects the film’s interest in power and disillusionment. He said the character “sees different realities of what being in power means after so long,” and is “caught in that contradiction between loyalty to the idea he once strongly fought for and believed in, and the reality of what that idea has become.”

Taylor-Joy framed Alia as one of the film’s most thematically complex characters, describing her existence as both a gift and a burden. “She carries the weight and the wisdom of generations and generations in her head. She’s never in a singular conversation,” the actor said, highlighting how Alia’s identity is shaped by forces far beyond herself. That overwhelming awareness is ultimately anchored in her relationship with Paul. “The one thing she feels most strongly about is her love and devotion to her brother. She’ll do anything for him to various degrees of insanity.”

Robert Pattinson also teased the mystery surrounding his character, Scytale, describing him as “an unusual character” whose allegiances are not immediately clear. “You can’t really tell whose side he’s on, which is what makes him interesting,” Pattinson said. He added that Scytale is “not a conventional bad guy,” suggesting the character may occupy a more morally ambiguous space within the story.

Villeneuve also teased Duncan Idaho’s return as one of the film’s most significant developments. He pointed to Frank Herbert’s decision to bring back such a charismatic figure after his death in the first film, suggesting that Duncan reenters the story at exactly the right moment. According to Villeneuve, the comeback carries “a tremendous impact,” especially as Paul is “struggling with his identity.”

Zendaya kept details close to the vest when asked about where Chani stands after the events of the last film, but she did tease more to come between Chani and Florence Pugh’s Irulan. Praising her co-star as “absolutely phenomenal,” Zendaya said audiences will have to “see for yourself what happens,” adding that the story ahead is “quite the journey.”

Since the sequel is a departure from the first two films, Dune Part Three will address how Arakis has changed in 17 years, while also remaining the same desert planet fans thrist for. “We are visiting new sets, new places,” Villeneuve said. “I brought the camera in areas of the planet that you guys have not seen before, and there we are visiting new planets as well.”

Villeneuve also wanted Dune: Part Three to stand apart visually, saying he approached the film with “a new pair of eyes.” That led him to collaborate with cinematographer Linus Sandgren. Both of them decided to shoot most of the movie in film. “It has been shot in film since years, and we shot the movie in 70–65 millimeter. Most of it, a big part also was shot in IMAX film, first time for me… I kept the desert in digital, because I like the brutality of the digital IMAX. So the movie is really meant to be an IMAX experience and to be seen on the biggest screen as possible.” 

“Those are epic cameras. I mean, those are the best cameras in the world. And when you see the result on screen, it’s quite unmatchable,” Villeneuve praised. “It was quite a unique experience for me, and I hope I will have a chance to do it again.”

“I value IMAX because it is the most immersive format, and at the end, cinema is an art form that is meant to make you travel, make you experience things that you will not live in a regular life,” Villeneuve continued. “I think as human beings, it’s important to share experience, to have communal experiences. I think that theaters bring us together. And I think there’s something beautiful and human about that.”

Dune: Part Three opens in theaters on December 18, 2026.