The sands of Dune may soon welcome a new face — and not just any face, but a face dancer. Robert Pattinson is reportedly in talks to join the cast of the upcoming third Dune film, an adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah, with the role of primary antagonist Scytale potentially lined up for the Batman actor.
A couple of major reports doing the rounds. Firstly, Deadline has an exclusive report that Denis Villeneuve is still putting the finishing touches on the script and no official offer has been made, but their sources say there is strong interest in bringing Pattinson into the franchise. Legendary has declined to comment.
A report from Nexus Point News, however, goes a step further, stating that Pattinson is “set to portray Scytale” and that a deal is either closed or very close to closing. The outlet notes it has been tracking the casting for weeks, pointing to Deadline’s earlier report of the actor being in talks.
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Scytale is a member of the Bene Tleilax — a secretive and genetically obsessed faction known for their shape-shifting agents, known as face dancers. In the novel, Scytale conspires with Guild Navigator Edric, Reverend Mother Mohiam (played by Charlotte Rampling in Villeneuve’s films), and Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) to dethrone Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), setting up his role as the film’s lead antagonist. Jason Momoa is expected to return as Duncan Idaho — a character whose ghola was first created by the Tleilaxu.
The film, tentatively referred to as Dune 3, is slated to begin filming in July and continue through the end of the year, with Villeneuve returning to write and direct. Returning cast members are expected to include Chalamet, Zendaya, and Florence Pugh. According to Nexus Point News, the film will introduce Paul and Chani’s teenage children, Leto and Ghanima, as well as the revolutionary Farok — suggesting a significant time jump from Dune: Part Two.
While not officially announced, there’s speculation that the aim is to release the film in December 2026.
Pattinson, meanwhile, has a full slate, recently wrapping the A24 film The Drama with Zendaya, and Die, My Love, directed by Lynne Ramsay and co-starring Jennifer Lawrence. He’s also filming Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey and is producing the A24 project Primetime. If he signs on for Dune 3, it could delay production on The Batman – Part II until at least early 2026.
