Timothée Chalamet says Dune 3 matches the "scale of Lord of the Rings" – and based on reports of the first footage I can see why

Dune 3 has debuted its first footage behind closed doors, and from all the reports, it sounds like an epic conclusion to the franchise. Director Denis Villeneuve and stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya and Jason Momoa took to the stage at CinemaCon to introduce seven minutes of footage and Chalamet had a pretty huge comparison to make.

Reflecting on his work as Paul Atreides across the trilogy, the actor referenced another epic fantasy. "I've grown up on screen with Denis [on these] three films," he said, per Entertainment Weekly. "It was just deeply moving to be part of a sci-fi trilogy on the scale of Lord of the Rings, but in a time when movie theaters and movies aren't as naturally successful as they used to be, you know. It's a deep honor."

And while it might seem like a pretty lofty comparison to make, from all the footage reports I've read, I can see what Chalamet means. According to Gizmodo, it picks up in the midst of a battle which sees ships full of Fremon landing on a rainy planet, led by Javier Bardem's Stilgar. Brutality soon descends as the Fremon are mowed down in their hundreds with even a gigantic shield piercer unable to make any significant impact.

The narrative then cuts to Paul Atreides (Chalamet) speaking to Duncan Idaho's clone (Momoa). "You conquered the galaxy," he says to Paul. "You destroyed thousands of worlds. You’re way beyond redemption." It's worth noting here that this film takes place 17 years after the last, which implies Paul has been descending deeper into darkness since where we left off in Dune 2.

Per Nerdist, the rest of the footage features a montage of scenes. These include Zendaya's Chani in the desert hunting a sandworm and ends with a tease of the pair on either side of the battlefield. Other shots show Anya Taylor-Joy's Alia Atreides reading cards as well as some moments we've seen in the Dune 3 trailer already.

The Lord of the Rings comparison feels apt based on the sheer scale the final film looks set to tackle. Cinematic battles will be at the foreground too, harking back to Return of the King as well as emotional pay-off for the main characters based on what is being teed up between Paul and Chani.

Equally, if Villeneuve sticks the landing, it's hard to see how his Dune trilogy won't be regarded as one of the most consistent adaptations in cinematic history, just like Peter Jackson's beloved films. I, for one, can't wait to see what he has planned.

Dune 3 is set to be released on December 18, 2026. For what else is coming this year, read our guide to all of the 2026 movie release dates you need in your calendar.