Arrakis is back.
Legendary Entertainment confirmed that the filming of the third part of the saga Dune, , always orchestrated by Denis Villeneuve., will once again take place in the Liwa Desert, in Abu Dhabi. News that has sci-fi fans… and TikTok trembling.
Return to Arrakis: When reality surpasses fiction
Villeneuve never gave up on his choice: to film the real desert rather than relying on green screens. Liwa dunes, already sublime in the first two films, will once again serve as a life-size backdrop for the planet Arrakis. And let's be honest: this visual immersion is one of the secrets of the saga. The sand, the heat, the changing shadows... all of this gives the image a sensory power who makes the difference.
Desert Liwa – Abu Dhabi
Filming, scheduled for the end of 2025, will benefit from the massive support of the Creative Media Authority and Abu Dhabi Film Commission, who know how to attract Hollywood with impeccable logistics and solid financial incentives. After Star Wars, Fast & Furious 7 et Mission: Impossible, Abu Dhabi confirms its status as Desert Hollywood.
Chalamet & Zendaya: The duo that thrills the world of fans
Si Dune, has become a pop culture phenomenon, it is also thanks to them. Timothée Chalamet, idol of arty movie buffs and TikTok communities alike, and Zendaya, actress, singer, fashion icon and activist, form a duo that goes far beyond the screen.
Dance Dune : Part Two, their few scenes together were enough to set social media ablaze: fan edits on Insta, hashtags accumulating millions of views, fan art shared in succession. Their on-screen chemistry has become a real collective obsession.
But that's not all: the two stars are also icons fashionWhen Zendaya and Chalamet walk the red carpet (remember their duet at the Venice Film Festival), it's as much a fashion event as it is a cinematic one. The result: Dune 3 will not only be a blockbuster, but also a machine for generating viral content between looks, interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.
Dune 1 – Timothée Chalamet
Timothée Chalamet: From New York Prodigy to Blockbuster King
Born in New York in 1995, Timothée Chalamet grew up in an artistic environment: mother a dancer, father a publisher, family connected to the arts. After discreet beginnings in TV series (Homeland in 2012) and a notable first role in Interstellar (2014) by Christopher Nolan, it literally exploded in 2017 with Call Me by Your Name by Luca Guadagnino.
At just 22, he became the youngest actor nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in nearly 80 years. Chalamet established his signature style: a fragile intensity, a nervous energy, and an ability to portray characters both vulnerable and powerful.
The following are marked choices: Beautiful Boy alongside Steve Carell, The King at Netflix, then Little Women by Greta Gerwig. When Denis Villeneuve chose him to play Paul Atreides, it's a bet: can he carry a monumental science fiction fresco on his shoulders? The answer is clear: yes. Chalamet has become the face of a cinema generation, capable of alternating between auteur cinema and blockbusters. And while we expect him in the role of Bob Dylan and after wonka, Dune, remains his most iconic project, the one that transformed him into the heir to a dynasty... both on screen and in the collective imagination.
Zendaya: From Disney Channel to Global Icon
It's hard to imagine that in its early days, Zendaya (born 1996 in California) was one of the rising stars of the Disney Channel (Shake it up, KC Undercover). Very quickly, she freed herself from her teen star image to become a complete artist: singer, actress, activist and model.
Her career took a turn in 2017. She joined the Marvel universe in the role of MJ alongside Tom Holland in Spider-Man: Homecoming. The same year, she made her mark in The Greatest Showman with Hugh Jackman, where his magnetic presence is immediately evident. But it is with the series Euphoria HBO's Emmy Awards that she became a true cultural icon: her role as Rue, a teenager struggling with her addictions, earned her two Emmy Awards, making her the youngest actress to receive two awards in this category.
Zendaya embodies a new generation of actresses today: committed, versatile, and image-conscious. On the red carpet, she collaborates with stylist Law Roach to create looks that go viral in a matter of hours. By joining Dune, , she brings to the saga a pop and fashion aura, while giving body to Chani, a strong and independent heroine.
Two paths, one alchemy: One comes from auteur cinema, the other from pop culture and generational series. Together, Chalamet and Zendaya embody the present and future of Hollywood: talented, conscious of their image, but above all capable of speaking to all audiences. Their duet in Dune, is not just a successful casting: it is a cultural encounter that transforms the saga into a true global phenomenon.
Dune, , the Lord of the Rings of science fiction?
Since its release in 1965, Frank Herbert's novel has left its mark on pop culture. Its visionary themes (ecology, resource exploitation, religious fanaticism) have influenced Star Wars, Matrix, video games like Mass Effect, or even series like Game of Thrones in their approach to power and dynasties.
With Villeneuve, Dune, takes on the stature of a cinematic fresco comparable to The Lord of the Rings by Peter Jackson: an ambitious adaptation that respects the depth of the source material while making it accessible to an entire generation. It is both XXL arthouse cinema and mainstream saga.
Why Abu Dhabi wants to be the home of Arrakis
Abu Dhabi has already hosted more than 180 international productions. By attracting Dune, , the emirate is not only looking for prestige: it is investing in its image of global creative hubThe Liwa Desert is becoming a cult destination for movie buffs, just as New Zealand is for The Lord of the Rings.
For fans, this means one thing: geek pilgrimage sites where to post selfies in the dunes of "real" scenes from Arrakis. Suffice to say that film tourism is going to explode.
After six Oscars for the first film and critical acclaim for the second, Dune 3 carries enormous expectations. The story should go even further in the transformation of Paul Atreides and the struggle of the Fremen. Add to that a Chalamet at the height of his charisma, a Zendaya more present than ever, and you have a perfect equation for a film at the same time total spectacle and cultural phenomenon.
In short, Dune 3 is not just a film: it is a generational eventBetween an XXL desert, a star-studded duo, and a cult literary legacy, Villeneuve is preparing to deliver one of the most anticipated chapters of the decade. Arrakis isn't a distant planet: it's Abu Dhabi. And in a few months, all eyes will be on it.
Angélys Saint-Clair
