Warner Bros. showed the first seven minutes of Dune: Part Three at CinemaCon, and the footage is already being described as one of the standout moments of the studio’s presentation.
Reports say the opening drops viewers right into a brutal war sequence led by Stilgar before shifting into footage involving Paul Atreides, Chani, Hayt, and the new threat played by Robert Pattinson.
The movie releases December 18, 2026.
Dune: Part Three opens with war and chaos
The footage begins with thunder and pounding music over the opening credits before ships tear through a violent storm.
Some are struck by lightning and destroyed, while others make it through and descend toward the ground.
Inside the ships are soldiers led by Javier Bardem’s Stilgar, with the men taking the rain as a hopeful sign tied to prophecy before launching into a chant.
When the ramps open, the soldiers step out into the rain carrying a black case, only to be hit by a devastating barrage from a massive hidden weapon.
The attack tears through the troops, blowing some apart and setting the battlefield on fire. Stilgar identifies the distant weapon, helping his side target it in return as the sequence turns into a full-scale bombardment.
Reports describe the scene as intense, brutal, and a much bigger look at the holy war now raging across the galaxy.
Paul, Chani, Hayt, and Scytale also appear
After the opening battle, the footage reportedly shifts into a more trailer-like montage teasing the larger story.
Paul asks Hayt, the revived Duncan Idaho played by Jason Momoa, what he thinks of him, and Hayt answers, “I think you’re way beyond redemption.”
Chani and Paul also come face to face, with Chani asking him how it feels to be human like everyone else.
The footage also includes Anya Taylor-Joy reading cards and Robert Pattinson’s character describing a cloud blocking his vision and preventing him from seeing beyond the present moment, teasing the role Scytale will play in the story.
The preview wraps with more action beats and a giant sandworm moment to close things out (h/t Brandon Davis on X).
Dune: Part Three features a major time jump
The film takes place 17 years after Dune: Part Two, with Paul now ruling as emperor and dealing with the consequences of his rise to power.
Villeneuve described the third movie as the most emotional of the trilogy, while Chalamet and Zendaya said Paul and Chani have both changed significantly since the last film.
Release info
Dune: Part Three is directed by Denis Villeneuve and stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, and Isaach De Bankolé.
The cast also includes Charlotte Rampling, Anya Taylor-Joy, Robert Pattinson, and Javier Bardem. Newcomers Nakoa-Wolf Momoa and Ida Brooke are also featured in the film.
Dune: Part Three opens only in theaters on December 18.
