Jason Momoa is officially prepping to take on the role of Duncan Idaho in Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Three. The first step for it was to shave off his six-year-old beard. In a video on his social media handles, the Aquaman actor shaved his beard on camera and said, "Only for you, Denis," signalling his return to the Dune franchise. But don't worry, just like the internet community, he too hates it. “Goddamnit! I hate it,” he said.
It was in April that Momoa confirmed his return for Dune: Part Three. Jason Momoa portrayed Duncan Idaho in the first Dune film, serving as Paul Atreides' (Timothée Chalamet) swordmaster and mentor. In the movie, Duncan ultimately gives his life to help Paul and Lady Jessica flee from the deadly Sardaukar troops. In Frank Herbert’s original novels, Duncan is later resurrected as a clone. However, it remains uncertain whether director Denis Villeneuve will follow that storyline in Dune: Part Three.
The third film in the Dune franchise will be based on Frank Herbert's Dune: Messiah. The film was recently titled Dune: Part Three, much to fans' displeasure. Herbert's Dune was adapted by Denis Villeneuve into two films, Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024). It starred Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, with Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgard, and Dave Bautista.
Interestingly, his son is also a part of the film. Momoa told his son will have a "rude awakening" as he is joining the field for the first time. "It’s going to be good. He did it on his own. I don’t want to help him, and he’s done it all on his own, and good for him," he said.
"You want your children to be better than you, and I really, actually believe he is," Momoa continued. "I couldn’t do what he’s doing at his age. There’s no way I could sit in a room with Denis Villeneuve and hold my own. I was on Baywatch at 19. He’s 16 and holding shit down with Denis Villeneuve."
Filming has reportedly started in Budapest and is expected to release in theatres in December 2026.
Apart from the two Dune films, the makers had also released Dune: Prophecy, released in 2024 which is a prequel to the Denis Villeneuve films, taking place approximately 10,000 years earlier. The series has been renewed for season 2.
