In the world of Dune, there are intergalactic stakes. Power, political hierarchies, piles of Spice – it all comes into play in the sprawling tapestry
In the world of Dune, there are intergalactic stakes. Power, political hierarchies, piles of Spice – it all comes into play in the sprawling tapestry of Frank Herbert’s story. But Denis Villeneuve’s trilogy adaptation, set to conclude with Dune: Part Three this December, also hones in on the personal, emotional stakes at play. Much of Part Two was a love story between Timothée Chalamet’s idealistic teenage nobleman Paul Atreides, and Zendaya’s Fremen warrior Chani. While the pair fell for each other in the extensive deserts of Arrakis, Paul’s dim destiny dragged him into a position of corrupted control come the closing credits – not just altering the fate of the galaxy, but betraying Chani’s heart too.
Going in to Dune: Part Three, Chani is still reeling with the fallout of Paul’s decision to marry Princess Irulan and ascend the throne, having toppled Emperor Shaddam IV. “I think there is a deep pain, a deep mistrust, a deep betrayal,” Zendaya tells Empire of Chani’s headspace this time around. “In the previous film, she opened herself up to the idea of letting someone in, allowing a space for love or gentleness. Well, we see how that goes. That part of her life is not as present anymore.” In Paul’s possession, Chani’s blue scarf becomes a symbol of their lost love. “Think about things that are just items until someone you know or loved has touched [them],” she says of its totemic value. “Then there’s distance, or there’s loss, and that item is now something much more.”
For Villeneuve, Part Three – among everything else – is effectively a divorce movie, with galactic consequences. “It’s a movie that is talking about something that is very human, which is the idea of a separation, the idea of a divorce,” he explains. “With me, it happened. The idea about the broken family is something that the book gave me the opportunity to explore.” Zendaya concurs: “He brought it up many times,” she says. “He’s like, ‘Oh… been here.’” Expect a final chapter that holds a Gom Jabbar to your heart.
Read Empire’s full Dune: Part Three cover story – speaking to Denis Villeneuve, Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Anya Taylor-Joy, Robert Pattinson, Jason Momoa, and Florence Pugh about the epic final chapter – in the December 2026 issue, on sale Thursday October 22. Pre-order a copy online here. Dune: Part Three comes to cinemas from December 18.
