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New Look at ‘Dune: Part Three’ Teases a Bigger, Darker Finale

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Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune’ saga is nearly at its end. After 2 acclaimed films that turned Frank Herbert’s novels into modern sci-fi epics, the director is preparing to close Paul Atreides’ story with ‘Dune: Part Three’, which opens in theaters on December 18.

The final chapter jumps nearly 2 decades past the events of ‘Dune: Part Two’. Paul now rules the Imperium as a ruthless emperor, haunted by visions of Imperial collapse and drawn into a conspiracy centered on Chani as old allies return and new threats emerge.

With release about 2 months away, the film has landed on the cover of Empire magazine with 2 collectible editions. The covers promise that “The epic saga ends!” and describe the finale as “Bigger, darker, gnarlier,” taking readers inside the sci-fi trilogy’s blockbuster conclusion.

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Cover 1 puts Zendaya’s Chani front and center in a desert setting, with other key characters around her. Cover 2 is bathed in golden light and features Timothée Chalamet’s Paul in his dark imperial attire, joined by more of the ensemble.

Each cover also includes a pull quote from its star. Zendaya’s cover teases a deep betrayal at the heart of the story, while Chalamet’s suggests this chapter is a different kind of film from the 2 that came before it. Those hints fit the story fans know is coming. Paul’s rise to power in ‘Part Two’ set up a darker path, and this film shows the cost of the empire he built.

Chalamet returns as Paul, now the Padishah Emperor, with Zendaya as Chani, a Fremen warrior and Paul’s former partner. Florence Pugh is back as Princess Irulan, now Paul’s wife, alongside Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Javier Bardem as Stilgar, Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck, and Charlotte Rampling as Reverend Mother Mohiam.

Jason Momoa also returns, this time as Hayt, a ghola of Duncan Idaho. Isaach de Bankolé plays Farok, a disillusioned former Fedaykin. The finale also introduces several major new characters. Anya Taylor-Joy plays Alia Atreides, and Robert Pattinson joins as the villain Scytale, a Tleilaxu Face Dancer.

Nakoa-Wolf Momoa and Ida Brooke play Leto II and Ghanima, Paul and Chani’s twins. Their presence points to the next generation of the Atreides family and the future of Paul’s empire.

Villeneuve co-wrote the screenplay with Brian K. Vaughan, and Hans Zimmer returns as composer. Linus Sandgren takes over as cinematographer, shooting mainly on 65 mm with select sequences on IMAX 15/70 mm film.

Demand is already high. IMAX 70 mm tickets sold out at 19 locations in April, and a later ticket sale in August caused long online queues and site crashes. The film also gets a 3-week IMAX exclusivity window over ‘Avengers: Doomsday’.

The ‘Dune’ feature isn’t the only highlight in Empire’s new issue. The covers also tease Quentin Tarantino and David Fincher in conversation, Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller looking back on 20 years of the ‘Fockers’ films, burning questions about ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, a look at Tupac’s film career and a set visit to ‘Blade Runner 2099’.

Still, ‘Dune’ is clearly the main event. With the saga reaching its conclusion, this issue is likely to be a collector’s item for fans. With 2 striking covers, hints of betrayal and a cast full of major stars, Empire’s spread adds to the excitement around ‘Dune: Part Three’. If the “bigger, darker, gnarlier” promise holds true, Villeneuve’s finale could be one of the defining blockbusters of the year. The final journey to Arakis begins on December 18.

What are you most excited to see in Dune: Part Three?

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