After months of speculation, Robert Pattinson has finally confirmed what fans have been whispering since Dune: Part Two — he’s officially joining Denis Villeneuve’s ever-expanding Dune universe.
In a recent conversation with IndieWire while promoting his upcoming film Die My Love, Pattinson revealed that he has indeed filmed a villainous role for Dune: Part Three. This confirmation marks the first time the actor has publicly addressed his involvement in Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic, ending months of online theories about who would succeed Austin Butler’s memorable turn as Feyd-Rautha.
“When I was doing Dune, it was so hot in the desert that I just couldn’t question anything,” Pattinson said. “My brain actually wasn’t operating. I was just listening to Denis — like, ‘Whatever you want!’”
A New Villain Rises on Arrakis
While Warner Bros. hasn’t revealed which character Pattinson will play, early reports suggest he could portray Scytale, the shape-shifting assassin and master manipulator from Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah. If true, the Batman star will step into one of the most psychologically complex roles in the saga — a figure who tests Paul Atreides’ faith, power, and sanity as the empire begins to crumble.
Set to adapt Herbert’s Messiah storyline, Dune: Part Three continues Paul’s descent into prophecy and paranoia. Returning cast members include Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, and Javier Bardem, while new additions like Nakoa-Wolf Momoa and Ida Brooke will reportedly play Paul and Chani’s twin children.
Villeneuve’s Final Chapter
Known for his immersive world-building and preference for practical desert shoots, Villeneuve is expected to make Part Three the most intimate and politically charged entry yet. Both Dune and Dune: Part Two earned multiple Oscars, including Best Visual Effects and Best Cinematography — accolades that underline his insistence on shooting in real desert environments rather than green screens.
As Pattinson described the experience, the extreme heat on location mirrored the film’s intensity. “It’s like your body gives up, and what’s left is pure instinct,” he said. That kind of surrender — both physical and emotional — feels fitting for a film about power, identity, and the limits of control.
Dune: Part Three arrives in theaters December 18, 2026, promising an ending as monumental as the desert that inspired it.
