Dune 3 is the upcoming third film in Denis Villeneuve’s cinematic adaptation of Frank Herbert’s basic sci-fi saga, and Jason Momoa’s Duncan Idaho will return. After splitting the primary e book into two components, Villeneuve is now anticipated to cover Dune Messiah in Dune 3. This controversial sequel takes place a few years after Paul Atreides’ ascension to Emperor of the Recognized Universe, exploring his conquest of the opposite Nice Homes and the cloak-and-dagger conspiracy to deliver him down. Dune: Part 2 perfectly sets up Dune Messiah with its bleak ending, by which Paul Atreides launches his holy battle.
It has lately been confirmed that Jason Momoa will return as Duncan Idaho in Villeneuve’s upcoming adaptation of Dune Messiah, one thing which is able to come as a significant shock to those that haven’t learn Herbert’s e book. The character was seemingly killed by Harkonnen forces within the first film after serving to Paul and Girl Jessica escape from Arrakeen and delivering them to the Fremen. His dying is a significant turning level within the story, and whereas his return could appear unusual at first, there’s a really clear goal to his character coming again.
Duncan Idaho Returns As A Ghola Named Hayt In Dune: Messiah
Momoa Is not Strictly Returning As Duncan
Though not talked about till Dune Messiah, the idea of “gholas” is an important side of the Dune universe that seems a number of occasions all through the franchise. As soon as Idaho makes his return, it turns into clear that these creatures are artificially created people whose bodily look is strictly the identical because the physique from which they’re made. They are often created utilizing only a single cell of an individual’s corpse, which is strictly how Paul’s enemies handle to craft an ideal lookalike of Idaho. This ghola is called Hayt, and he’s one of many essential characters in Dune Messiah.
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It’s essential to notice that Hayt isn’t truly Duncan from a organic perspective. The creature was made in a tank utilizing the unique Duncan’s organic matter following his dying by the hands of the Harkonnens. He’s implanted with fragments of Duncan’s authentic recollections, although a lot of Dune Messiah focuses on his inside battle about believing himself to be one thing that he’s not. Due to this fact, Momoa won’t be playing Duncan Idaho however fairly a totally completely different model of the character who merely possesses Duncan’s look and a few of his recollections.
Hayt Is Programmed To Destroy Emperor Paul Atreides
The Ghola Is An Assassination Weapon
Hayt performs a vital function in Dune: Messiah, as he’s created with the only real goal of destroying Paul Atreides. Unsurprisingly, the younger protagonist made loads of enemies when he launched his conquest in opposition to the Nice Homes – not solely did he exile the earlier Emperor and take his daughter for a spouse, however he additionally despatched his Fremen armies to kill anyone who opposed his rule. It’s estimated by Paul himself in Dune Messiah that billions of individuals have died as a direct results of his actions; a lot of the e book focuses on Paul’s enemies attempting to get revenge.
Though he’s not truly Duncan in spirit, Hayt shows a lot of the identical army prowess and bodily fortitude that made him such a robust fighter within the authentic e book – so he’s the right candidate to kill Paul. His creators additionally count on that Paul shall be weak to such a well-recognized face, because the pair grew up collectively and had been notoriously very shut. This battle shall be a significant a part of Dune Messiah’s story, as Hayt forces Paul to come back face-to-face with the results of his personal actions.
Hayt Is Linked To Dune 3’s Bene Tleilax
The Bene Tleilax Are Masters Of Genetic Manipulation
Villeneuve’s Dune has already established the Bene Gesserit, but it surely’s the lesser-known Bene Tleilax who take heart stage in Dune Messiah. This mysterious sect are identified for his or her expertise in genetic manipulation, feared by all species all through the Recognized Universe for his or her skills to bend the foundations of life and dying. They’re those who create the ghola of Duncan Idaho in an try to deliver Paul Atreides down, however their actions secretly have ulterior motives.
Whereas the Bene Tleilax (led by a shape-shifting man named Scylale) actually assist the makes an attempt to overthrow Emperor Paul and want to deliver an finish to his conquest, their motives for creating Hayt are literally extra scientific. It’s revealed in direction of the tip of the e book that Scytale introduced Idaho again as a result of he thought that his closeness with Paul would assist the Bene Tleilax higher perceive tips on how to absolutely restore a ghola’s recollections. That is one thing they’ve did not precisely do earlier than this level, which is obvious from Hayt’s altered persona, however he actually comes shut on this story.
Hayt Finally Recovers His Recollections As Duncan Idaho & Turns into Loyal To Home Atreides Once more
The Ghola Slowly Turns into Extra Like Duncan As The Story Progresses
When Hayt’s recollections are absolutely restored on the finish of Dune Messiah, the ghola remembers his previous as a soldier of Home Atreides and turns into loyal to Paul as soon as extra. He manages to beat the genetic set off of the Bene Tleilax that nearly causes him to kill his outdated good friend, turning in opposition to Scytale and finally killing a number of different members of the conspiracy in opposition to Home Atreides. It’s not till this second that the Duncan Idaho from Dune truly returns, however as soon as he’s again, he’s there to remain.
Dune: Messiah Hints At A Romance Between Duncan Idaho & Alia Atreides
The Romantic Subplot Is Some Of Dune Messiah’s Finest Materials
Though Paul’s sister Alia Atreides has solely appeared in a imaginative and prescient up to now, it’s virtually sure that she’ll play a a lot bigger function within the upcoming Dune Messiah. The character has distinctive skills that stem from Girl Jessica’s resolution to drink the Water of Life whereas pregnant, instilling her unborn daughter with the collective consciousness of all of the Reverend Moms who got here earlier than her. This makes her a useful asset for Paul in the course of the battle, and arguably the strongest member of the Atreides household.

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Nonetheless, even Alia Atreides isn’t immune to like. All through Dune Messiah, she develops a posh and even harmful romance with Hayt after the Bene Tleilax deliver him into Paul’s courtroom. Each characters are troubled by their actions and identities, with Alia struggling to simply accept her destiny because the inheritor of an empire constructed on blood whereas Hayt is aware of that he’ll by no means be accepted as a “actual” particular person, and each characters discover some consolation in one another. Alia’s story is briefly teased in Dune: Part Two, but it surely’s unclear whether or not Villeneuve will embody this particular subplot in Dune 3.

- Launch Date
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December 18, 2026
- Writers
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Jon Spaihts
- Producers
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John Harrison, Mary Mum or dad, Richard P. Rubinstein, Thomas Tull, Tanya Lapointe