Florence Pugh has confirmed her return as Princess Irulan in the highly anticipated film, Dune: Part Three, set to begin filming this summer. The actress, who first graced the screen as Irulan in Dune: Part Two, expressed her eagerness for a more significant role in the upcoming installment, hoping to showcase her character's growth and style.
Princess Irulan, daughter of Emperor Shaddam IV, portrayed by Christopher Walken, made a memorable appearance in the previous film, where she agreed to marry Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet, in exchange for sparing her father's life. Pugh noted her desire to see more of Irulan, stating, "I hope we see more of her. I want more cool outfits!" This enthusiasm hints at a deeper exploration of her character in Dune: Part Three.
Director Denis Villeneuve has confirmed that Irulan will play a more prominent role in the trilogy, drawing parallels to Zendaya's character, Chani. Villeneuve explained, "Of course, if there's a Dune Messiah as we plan, [Irulan will] become one of the prominent characters of that whole series. I'm doing a bit of what I did with Zendaya in the first movie. I introduced Chani in Dune and then she becomes one of the main characters in Part Two. I do the same with Florence; I just introduced her in Part Two and if there's a Dune Messiah, she becomes one of the main characters."
In addition to Pugh's return, Jason Momoa will also reprise his role as Duncan Idaho, despite his character's death in the first film. In Frank Herbert's original Dune novels, Duncan is resurrected as a ghola, an artificially created human. Momoa humorously remarked during a press tour, "Well, I'm not sure if I'm going to get in trouble or not, but it's the same thing like Game of Thrones. If you didn't read the books, it's not my fault, right? I'm going to be coming back."
Filming for Dune: Part Three is expected to wrap up by the end of 2025, with a release date set for December 18, 2026. Although the exact filming locations have not been disclosed, past shoots for the franchise have taken place in Hungary, Jordan, and Abu Dhabi.
Fans are already buzzing with excitement about the upcoming film, especially after the success of Dune: Part Two. Screen Rant's Ryan Northrup speculated that audiences might catch a sneak peek of Dune: Part Three in 2025, as actors may be permitted to share behind-the-scenes photos, similar to Zendaya's posts during the filming of the previous film.
Villeneuve, who will direct the third installment, has expressed his enthusiasm for returning to the Dune universe. He previously noted, "I thought that after Part Two that I will take a break, that I will go back in the woods and stay in the woods for a while to recover. But the woods weren’t really suiting me, and I would go back behind the camera faster than I think." He further elaborated, saying, "I think my biggest surprise about this is that I don’t want to run away from Arrakis. I’m still inspired to go back. That’s the thing that I was the most surprised by. I felt that after Part Two, I would need a break."
In addition to Pugh and Momoa, the cast will see the return of several key characters. Timothée Chalamet will reprise his role as Paul Atreides, while Zendaya returns as Chani. Other notable actors include Charlotte Rampling as Gaius Helen Mohiam, Javier Bardem as Stilgar, and Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia Atreides.
The anticipation surrounding Dune: Part Three is further heightened by the recent announcement of a second season for the Dune prequel series, Dune: Prophecy, which delves into the origins of the Bene Gesserit. This series, available for streaming on Hulu and Max, takes place approximately 10,000 years before the events of the films.
As fans eagerly await the next chapter in the Dune saga, the combination of returning stars and a deepening storyline promises to deliver an exciting cinematic experience. With Villeneuve at the helm and a talented cast, Dune: Part Three is shaping up to be a significant installment in the franchise.
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