The universe of Dune continues to expand, with two rising stars stepping into key roles for the third installment in Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi saga. Sources confirm that newcomer Nakoa-Wolf Momoa and Silo actress Ida Brooke have joined the cast of Dune 3, portraying the twin children of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and Chani (Zendaya): Leto II and Ghanima.
These castings mark the first major additions to the Dune 3 lineup in several months. While plot details remain tightly under wraps, it’s expected that Villeneuve’s adaptation will pull from Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah, the second book in the series, while teasing elements from its sequel Children of Dune—possibly signaling a bold narrative time jump.
Meet the Twins
Both young actors bring fresh energy to the franchise. Nakoa-Wolf Momoa, making his feature film debut, will appear alongside his father, Jason Momoa, who returns as Duncan Idaho—a resurrected version of his character in the form of a ghola, a clone with restored memories, reintroduced through the machinations of the shape-shifting Face Dancer Scytale, a role reportedly being taken on by Robert Pattinson.
Ida Brooke, best known for roles in Apple TV+’s Silo and The Primrose Railway Children, steps into the role of Ghanima. Together, the twins are expected to play a significant part in shaping the next phase of the Atreides legacy.
A New Chapter in the Saga
In Herbert’s original lore, Leto II and Ghanima are born at the end of Dune Messiah following the death of their mother, Chani—a tragedy foreseen by Paul Atreides through his prescient visions. The children play a central role in Children of Dune, attempting to thwart their aunt Alia’s descent into tyranny and navigating the politics of a divided empire. Leto II’s arc ultimately leads him to become the God Emperor, undergoing a transformation that fuses his body with that of a sandworm in service of humanity’s long-term survival.
What We Know About Dune 3
Production on Dune 3 is expected to begin in July 2025 and continue through the end of the year. Villeneuve returns as writer and director, reuniting with stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem, Florence Pugh, and Anya Taylor-Joy, the latter introduced in Dune: Part Two.
The film, co-produced by Warner Bros. and Legendary, will be Villeneuve’s third and final entry in the franchise and is rumored to be titled Dune: Messiah, though no official title has been confirmed. A December 16, 2026 release date is currently being eyed.
The Expanding Dune Universe
The Dune franchise continues to be a powerhouse for Legendary. The first two films—Dune: Part One (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024)—have grossed a combined $1.12 billion worldwide and earned a total of 15 Academy Award nominations, winning eight. In addition to the films, the universe has expanded to television with the prequel series Dune: Prophecy, which debuted on Max in November and is set thousands of years before the events of the original saga. A second season of the series has already been greenlit.
With new blood, high-stakes storytelling, and Villeneuve’s visionary world-building, Dune 3 is shaping up to be an epic culmination of a sci-fi saga generations in the making.