Dune: Part Three has released its first trailer, offering a look at Robert Pattinson’s eerie new villain.
Out this December, the final film in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune trilogy introduces the Twilight star, 39, as the shapeshifting villain Scytale. In Frank Herbert’s books, Scytale is a Tleilaxu Face Dancer — a genetically engineered shapeshifter and master manipulator who plays a central role in a conspiracy to overthrow Emperor Paul Atreides (played by Timothée Chalamet).
The forthcoming movie also sees the return of Zendaya (Chani), Javier Bardem (Stilgar), Rebecca Ferguson (Lady Jessica), Florence Pugh (Irulan), Anya Taylor-Joy (Alia Atreides ) and Isaach De Bankolé (Farok). In the trailer, Paul tells Lady Jessica, “War feeds on itself. The more I fight, the more enemies fight back,” while Pattinson’s Scytale appears with a bleached-blond buzz cut and shaved eyebrows.
“I’m doing the best I can to protect my family,” Paul continues as scenes of fighting play. At the end of the trailer, Scytale makes another appearance, walking through a group of native Fremen people, and wearing the signature nose plug.
Hours before the trailer dropped, Chalamet shared first-look images of the movie’s characters. Chalamet’s character poster showed him in a Fremen stillsuit, with red scarring and deep wrinkles around his eyes, a detour from how Paul looked in the first two films.
Dune: Part Three is expected to directly follow the events of Dune: Part Two, which ended with Paul overthrowing the Emperor, claiming the throne and setting a Fremen-led holy war in motion across the galaxy. Part Three is expected to open with Paul already in power, dealing with the consequences of that decision.
Up until now, Pattinson’s character had remained under wraps. Speaking to IndieWire in November, The Batman actor had opened up about his experience filming the movie in the Arabian desert.
“When I was doing Dune, it was so hot in the desert that I just couldn’t question anything,” Pattinson said. “And it was so relaxing, like my brain actually wasn’t operating. I did not have a single functioning brain cell. And I was just listening to Denis: ‘Whatever you want!’”
Dune: Part One premiered in 2021 and adapted the first portion of Herbert’s 1965 book, Dune. Part Two followed in 2024, covering the remainder of the best-selling book’s story. Part Three is based on the second title in Herbert’s original Dune series, Dune Messiah.
Dune: Part Three is out in theaters December 18.
