Timothée Chalamet and Anya Taylor-Joy Get a Haunting New Look as Paul and Alia in ‘Dune: Part Three’
Few characters in Frank Herbert’s saga are as mysterious as Alia Atreides. She is Paul’s younger sister, born with the memories of generations in her head, and she plays a pivotal role in ‘Dune Messiah’. For fans of the books, her arrival on screen has been one of the most anticipated parts of the trilogy’s finale.
Moviegoers got a brief teaser in ‘Dune: Part Two’. Anya Taylor-Joy appeared in a vision Paul has, with Alia still unborn and communicating through Lady Jessica. That cameo lasted only a few seconds, but it was enough to suggest something bigger was coming.
Now audiences have a clearer picture. Empire has revealed a new exclusive image of Timothée Chalamet and Taylor-Joy as Paul and Alia in ‘Dune: Part Three‘, from its world-exclusive issue. It’s the first real look at the siblings together in the final chapter.
New look at Timothée Chalamet and Anya Taylor-Joy as Paul and Alia Atreides in ‘DUNE: PART THREE’ (Via @empiremagazine | https://t.co/qXXIsYYb20) https://t.co/DV8tVUg8DK
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) October 15, 2026
The image shows Paul seated on his throne as Padishah Emperor of the Known Universe. He sits in earth-toned robes with his hands clasped, looking weighed down by power. Alia stands beside him, wrapped in white and gazing out, set against a teal, intricately carved backdrop.
The contrast is striking. Paul won the throne, at great cost, at the end of ‘Dune: Part Two’, and the shot suggests he’s far from comfortable in it. Alia’s pale, hooded silhouette hovers beside him like a watchful presence.
The film adapts Herbert’s second novel, set years after Paul takes power. In the book, Alia becomes a political advisor to her brother after he takes the throne. Villeneuve’s version jumps 17 years ahead, which explains how she’s now a grown woman.
Alia is not an easy character to play. Taylor-Joy has described the role as very intense, because Alia carries the weight and wisdom of generations in her head. Chalamet has said her performance is genuinely frightening, and insisted it wasn’t just promotional hype.
Official images released earlier have hinted at that edge, including shots of her wielding a sword. Few characters in the story balance innocence and menace so strangely.
“Forgive me for all I’ve done.” Experience the epic conclusion. Dune: Part Three only in theaters and IMAX December 18. #DuneMovie #FilmedforIMAX https://t.co/x9Nftg9yXd
— DUNE (@dunemovie) July 8, 2026
The director has been vocal about wanting her. Villeneuve told Entertainment Weekly in 2024 that he would love to make ‘Dune Messiah’ just to work with her and Florence Pugh more. He also said he was deeply happy that she accepted the challenge of playing what he described as a ghost and a secret in ‘Part Two’.
That faith has paid off. Taylor-Joy was spotted arriving in Budapest in July 2025 when production began, and she was seen having lunch with Zendaya. The film was shot in Budapest and Abu Dhabi over several months.
The magazine’s Empire December issue comes in 2 collectible cover variants. The first features Chani on the warpath, with Paul looming large, flanked by Alia and Jason Momoa’s mysterious Hayt. The subscriber cover is a portrait of a crumbling Paul, haunted by Chani’s blue scarf, illustrated by Greg Ruth.
Inside, Empire speaks with Taylor-Joy about the wildcard addition of Paul’s psychic sister. It also features interviews with Chalamet about Paul’s darkest chapter, Zendaya about the personal betrayal Chani is wrestling with, and Robert Pattinson about his shape-shifting assassin Scytale. Florence Pugh discusses Irulan’s political machinations, and Momoa talks about his return.
The end is nigh 🌔 Empire’s Dune: Part Three issue unpacks Arrakis’ darkest hour, with Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Robert Pattinson and more on Denis Villeneuve’s explosive finale – with two covers to collect. On sale 22 Oct. Read more: https://t.co/zRIv8e6Oyk https://t.co/CG66WywPlo
— Empire (@empiremagazine) October 15, 2026
‘Dune: Part Three’ arrives in theaters on December 18 from Warner Bros. and Legendary. The film picks up 17 years after the second movie, with Paul ruling as Emperor and reshaping the galaxy. Villeneuve has described it as a very different movie, with the same DNA but a different pacing.
For fans, the new image offers a tantalizing preview of one of the saga’s most intriguing relationships. If the book is any guide, the bond between Paul and Alia will be both powerful and unsettling. With the release date approaching, every new look adds to the sense that this finale will be darker and stranger than anything before it.
What is your first reaction to the new image of Paul and Alia?
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