Dune 2 confirmed for 2023 release

Timothée Chalamet in Dune
(Image credit: Warner Bros)

Dune 2 is officially happening – and it's coming October 20, 2023, as a theatrical-exclusive release, Warner Bros. and Legendary have confirmed.

Dune: Part One adapts parts of Frank Herbert's novel, which is split into three books, leaving room for more story to tell. Writer and director Denis Villeneuve had previously been optimistic about a sequel being greenlit, but that wasn't a sure thing upon release – in both cinemas and on HBO Max – a week ago

Now, the official Dune Twitter account shared the Dune 2 logo along with the caption: "This is only the beginning," echoing a line said by Zendaya's Chani.

"I just received news from Legendary that we are officially moving forward with Dune: Part Two," writer and director Denis Villeneuve said in a statement (via THR). "It was a dream of mine to adapt Frank Herbert’s Dune and I have the fans, the cast, and crew, Legendary and Warner Bros. to thank for supporting this dream. This is only the beginning."

As the first movie straddles the first and second books from the original novel, Dune 2 will likely do the same with the second and third books. In a recent interview with ScreenRant, Villeneuve teased that the sequel will be "more fun" and "more cinematic," but avoided sharing anything further about the plot or characters. If you want an idea of where the story could go, you can read about what happens next in the books here (spoilers for both Dune books, obviously).

For everything else coming to theaters and streaming services soon, here are the upcoming movies we're excited about.

Jordan Gerblick

After scoring a degree in English from ASU, I worked as a copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. Now, as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer, I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my apartment, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.

Read more
Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides in one of the best sci-fi movies of all time, Dune Part 2.
Dune 3 will reportedly start filming this summer, a year earlier than expected
Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya in Dune: Part Two
Dune 3: Everything we know so far about Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Messiah
Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya in Dune: Part Two
Dune 3 is now in pre-production as Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi sequel prepares to start filming this summer
Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides in one of the best sci-fi movies of all time, Dune Part 2.
Denis Villeneuve is making Dune 3 next instead of another planned project because he felt the "appetite" from fans and "a responsibility to finish the story"
Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides in one of the best sci-fi movies of all time, Dune Part 2.
Denis Villeneuve doubles down on Dune 3 being his last Dune movie, but is excited to return: "After that, it would become unhealthy"
Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya in Dune: Part Two
It's a travesty that the Oscars has snubbed Denis Villeneuve twice in a row, but Dune 3 could be his Return of the King
Latest in Action Movies
Jason Momoa next to Lobo
Jason Momoa has gone method taking on the role of Lobo: "I asked everybody to call me by my character's name"
Avengers: Doomsday directors admit it's a "difficult" movie to make but tease some great Marvel collaborators "old and new"
Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom
The Russo Brothers say Robert Downey Jr. "tried to talk us into" doing another Avengers movie but they "said no" until they heard the pitch for Doomsday: "That story has to be told"
No Time to Die
Harry Potter and Spider-Man producers reportedly in talks to develop new James Bond movie
Amanda Seyfried in Mamma Mia!
Mean Girls star Amanda Seyfried was offered the role of Gamora in the MCU, but turned it down because she thought Guardians of the Galaxy would be "Marvel's first bomb"
Robert Downey Jr. during the Doctor Doom announcement at Marvel's SDCC 2024 panel
Kevin Feige was behind the decision to bring Robert Downey Jr. in as Doctor Doom, and the conversation was had "a while ago"
Latest in News
A screenshot from MindsEye showing a character leaning out of a car, shooting another car with a gun.
GTA veteran says the games industry needs to "get smarter" about what people actually want: "There are so many games, and I think we're starting to feel the effects"
Posing with a rifle in the Fallout 76 Ghoul update
Fallout 76's art director "had to fight really hard" so Bethesda would make the MMO's map bigger than Skyrim's
Minecraft movie image of Jack Black as steve
Don't expect Minecraft to go free-to-play anytime soon, as Mojang says "It doesn't really work with the way we built it"
Yasuke looking over the water to a shrine during sunset in Assassin's Creed Shadows
Assassin's Creed Shadows has an entire island stuffed with adorable kittens you need to check out, and it's based on an actual Japanese cat paradise
phase zero key art showing zombies in a hallway
Former Witcher 3 and Dying Light devs reveal their Resident Evil homage, complete with PS1-style fixed cameras
Shadow of Mordor's Nemesis System was only created because WB Games wanted something to combat Batman Arkham Asylum's second-hand sales, exec says