Part Three’ Book Change That Will Leave Fans Reeling
Dune star Rebecca Ferguson has finally addressed her return in the franchise’s third installment, which has been in production for several months now. Denis Villeneuve’s Dune franchise has seen many stars come and go through the first two movies, but few have been as beloved as Lady Jessica, portrayed by Rebecca Ferguson. While initially just a concubine to Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac) and focused on teaching her son Paul (Timothée Chalamet) the Voice, she’s now the new Reverend Mother of the Fremen and advising Bene Gesserit to her son, who assumes to take his spot as the new Emperor.
Fans of Frank Herbert’s novels feared for Lady Jessica’s future in Dune: Part Three, considering she isn’t part of the book. However, during the press tour for her next movie, A House of Dynamite, Total Film asked Ferguson if she could confirm or deny her role. “Yeah! I am in it!” she said, continuing, “Small. Dip in and out, because I’m not in the book, so I wasn’t reckoning on it. Then, Denis [Villeneuve] called me and was like ‘Why do I have a feeling you think you’re not in it?’’ And I was like, ‘Because I’m not in the book?’ And he was like ‘No, mate, I have a couple scenes for you…”
Ferguson also admitted that “Very rarely do I get any more FOMO. I am quite often relieved to not be involved in things. I’m the one who comes in and leaves fast. But I think [Dune] is the one… I walked onto set and I saw Linus Sandgren and Denis, and Timothée was there too! And it just rings close. I knew I was going to leave the next day, so there was a sadness to it. But I also know that the film is epic.” If Ferguson was indeed only on set for one day, fans can expect her role to be limited to only a scene or two.
When Does ‘Dune: Part Three’ Come Out?
Dune: Part Three will hit theaters on December 18, 2026. If the dates don’t change, this means it will open alongside Avengers: Doomsday. But, considering each is expected to be one of the biggest movies of the year, these dates will likely shift somehow. After Doomsday has already been delayed from its original May launch date, it will most likely be Dune: Part Three that gets moved back.
Stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of Dune: Part Three.
- Release Date
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December 18, 2026
- Director
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Denis Villeneuve
- Writers
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Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve
- Producers
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Mary Parent