Secure those Dune: Part Three tickets early if you want to catch opening weekend. Denis Villeneuve’s epic trilogy closer drops December 18, putting it on a direct collision course with Marvel‘s Avengers: Doomsday. Billed as “Dunesday,” a box-office showdown reminiscent of 2023’s “Barbenheimer” craze, the clash has studios locking in advance sales early, backed by a brand-new trailer drop to fuel the hype.
Today’s trailer depicts Paul Atreides as a power-hungry tyrant, while those who once viewed him as their savior must come to terms with his corruption and diabolical ambition. The footage moves fast, cycling through striking, sand-choked imagery as the race to bring Atreides to heel intensifies. At the end of the preview, Legendary encourages audiences to pre-order tickets immediately or risk being left in the dust.
For those unfamiliar with the source material, Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah follows Paul as Emperor of the Known Universe, wielding more power than any single man should hold. Worshipped as a religious prophet by the Fremen, he faces a deadly conspiracy brewed within his own inner circle, while the ultimate threat targets his lover, Chani, and his unborn heirs.
Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya lead the returning ensemble alongside Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem, Florence Pugh, and Anya Taylor-Joy. They’re joined by franchise newcomers Robert Pattinson, Isaach de Bankolé, Nakoa-Wolf Momoa, and Ida Brooke.
While I’m definitely looking forward to Denis Villeneuve wrapping up his trilogy, I’m not sure I can commit to the full “Dunesday” double-feature experience. Including pre-show content, we’re talking about a six-plus-hour marathon to catch both films back-to-back. I salute those brave souls willing to diaper up and join the hype, but that’s a young person’s game. I’ll likely catch Doomsday first, then hit Arrakis the following day.
Are you making “Dunesday” plans, or spacing them out? Which movie are you looking forward to more? Do you have a bathroom break strategy? Let us know in the comments section below!