Dune 3's Biggest BTS Change Is Paying Off More Than I Ever Expected
Nick Bythrow is a Lead Writer for ScreenRant. He has been writing for the site since September 2022. He graduated from Hampshire College in 2022, where he triple majored in Journalism, Communications, and Media Studies. When he's not writing about TV and movies for ScreenRant and his blog, Frayed Branches, Nick is penning speculative fiction and poetry on Amazon. He lives outside Boston, Massachusetts.
Dune: Part Three includes a massive change behind-the-scenes, but it's one that's paying off more than I ever expected it to. The story of Dune: Part Three is pulled from the pages of Frank Herbert's second Dune book, Dune Messiah. The third movie follows Paul after his conquest of the galaxy and rise to become the Padishah Emperor, with his tyrannical reign threatened by new forces rising in the galaxy. Dune: Part Three arrives in theaters on December 18, 2026.
Just like the previous two installments, the third and final movie in the trilogy is directed by Denis Villeneuve, from a script co-written by Villeneuve and Brian K. Vaughn. The movie will conclude Paul's story within the Dune universe, just like Herbert's books did, giving the film series a definitive closing act. It seems the film is poised to focus on the aftermath of the end of Dune: Part Two, but through the lens of both a new threat and Chani's waning dedication to the man she once loved. It promises political and emotional complexity as the series closes out.
However, there have also been significant changes to the movie contrasted with the previous films. For one, the cast of the Dune movies is expanding, with Anya Taylor-Joy officially joining as Paul's sister, Alia Atreides, and Robert Pattinson arriving as Scytale, a figure who threatens to upend Paul's newfound place of power. But there's one behind-the-scenes development which, at first, made for a worrisome change regarding how Dune: Part Three would turn out.
Dune 3's Cinematographer Change Was A Big Concern
Dune's visuals are a noteworthy part of the movie, from the effects of the sandworms to the book-accurate environment on display. One of the biggest contributors to the movie series' visual language was cinematographer Greig Fraser. Having previously worked on movies like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and The Batman, Fraser brought the stunning planet of Arrakis to life with cinematography that remains some of the best within the sci-fi genre. His work makes the franchise noteworthy, adding to the already incredible story through how it's presented.
But Fraser won't be coming back for Dune: Part Three. Instead, cinematographer Linus Sandgren will be taking over, bringing with him new skills that will be applied to the Dune universe. At first, the change in cinematographers seemed like a major concern. The first two movies had established a vital visual language that communicated with the audience in a unique way. Without Fraser's involvement, it was unclear if the third movie could live up to those expectations, or if it would feel too different from the previous installments.
Some of Sandgren's previous cinematography work includes No Time to Die, Babylon, Saltburn, and Wuthering Heights.
Dune 3 Somehow Looks Even Better Than The First Two Movies
Luckily, it appears concerns about Dune: Part Three's quality of presentation were unfounded. The movie still looks astounding, bringing Arrakis to life through bountiful, sweeping shots of the desert, alongside numerous looks at various characters. Dune: Part Three's trailers make the final installment look even better than the previous two, with Sandgren clearly utilizing a similar approach to Fraser in the way he showcases the desert planet. Stunning shots of sandworms, people in armor, and the environment all create an epic sense of scale.
With the movie only a few months away from theatrical release, it won't be long before Dune: Part Three more readily impresses with its showcase. Sandgren's own talent is shining through in how the movie is being presented, something that already indicates a strong continuation and fitting conclusion, both story-wise and visually. The movie's strong elements aren't going away just because Fraser isn't the cinematographer anymore. If anything, it gives the final part a new identity that aids in making it both similar yet unique when compared to the previous movies.
KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.