‘Dune: Part Three’ Gets a Bold New Look on Empire’s Double Covers as Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet Tease a Darker Finale
Few publications have been as closely tied to the rollout of Denis Villeneuve’s saga as Empire. Back in 2020, the magazine offered 3 exclusive covers that gave fans a first look at the sandworms. In 2023, Villeneuve used its ‘Dune: Part Two’ cover story to confirm that a third film adapting ‘Dune Messiah’ was indeed the dream.
That dream is now days from becoming reality. ‘Dune: Part Three’ arrives as the conclusion to Villeneuve’s trilogy, and the marketing machine is in full swing. Each new image has fans dissecting every frame for clues about how this story will end.
Now Empire has delivered another round. The magazine has unveiled 2 new covers for ‘Dune: Part Three’, one centered on Zendaya’s Chani and the other on Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides. Both show their characters in stillsuits against a golden desert glow, with other members of the ensemble gathered behind them. The covers promise that the epic saga ends, and describe the finale as bigger, darker and gnarlier.
The pull quotes are as revealing as the artwork. Zendaya’s cover line points to a deep betrayal, which matches the emotional wound at the center of the story. Chalamet’s line, on the other side, describes the movie as a beast of its own.
That betrayal is no surprise. At the end of ‘Dune: Part Two’, Paul launched a holy war, to the horror of Chani. Chalamet has said Chani is clearly feeling betrayed after the second film, and that the relationship has crumbled.
The trailer leaned into the same heartbreak. It shows Paul as a ruthless Emperor facing the consequences of his rule, with Chani preparing for conflict and expressing a deep sense of betrayal over his decision to take power. One report noted the trailer’s early scene showing her pregnant before she leaves him.
New look at ‘DUNE: PART 3’. (Source: @empiremagazine) https://t.co/g1XF1ngqFr
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 15, 2026
Villeneuve has been upfront that this chapter won’t mimic its predecessors. He told his team he didn’t want to walk in their own footsteps, and has described a different tone, rhythm and pace. The film jumps 17 years ahead, where Paul is dealing with the consequences of having too much power and trying to escape a cycle of violence.
New look at Florence Pugh and Robert Pattinson in ‘DUNE: PART THREE’ In theaters December 18. https://t.co/m2D5t7EN68
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) October 15, 2026
The director has also called it more action-packed and tense, leaning tonally toward a thriller. At the same time, he says the story is a little more emotional, and he even used a special “Psychedelic Unit” to capture experimental visuals. Chalamet has pointed out that the film weaves in storylines that weren’t explicit in the book, where Villeneuve took the most creative liberty.
Arrakis is waiting. Two months to go. DUNE: PART THREE arrives at Cineworld on December 15, for early @IMAX previews 🏜️ Secure tickets: https://t.co/ghbdPcMibg https://t.co/ITvr713PpL
— Cineworld (@cineworld) October 15, 2026
The cast has grown again. Robert Pattinson joins as Scytale, a shape-shifting plotter, while Anya Taylor-Joy returns as Alia after the time jump. Florence Pugh’s Princess Irulan, Jason Momoa’s Duncan Idaho, Rebecca Ferguson and Javier Bardem round out the ensemble.
The film was primarily shot on 65mm film, with some sequences in 15/70mm IMAX and the desert scenes in IMAX Digital. Production ran from July to November 2025 in Budapest and Abu Dhabi. Hans Zimmer returns to score it.
“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 timing is worth noting. ‘Dune: Part Three’ opens December 18 in the US, the same day as ‘Avengers: Doomsday’. Chalamet and Robert Downey Jr. have both joked about turning it into a Barbenheimer-style double feature, though it remains to be seen if the studios will play along.
The Empire cover itself nods to that showdown, with a coverline promising burning questions answered about the Marvel film. Even so, the magazine’s main push is clearly behind Arrakis. With a trilogy finale this ambitious, it’s hard to argue.
Those 2 covers capture what makes this series special: a love story caught inside an empire that’s falling apart. If the cover lines are any indication, the finale will be as heartbreaking as it is epic.
What are you most excited to see in Dune: Part Three?
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