Jason Momoa to Reprise Duncan Idaho Role in Dune: Messiah

Image credits: Warner Bros.

The latest rumors in the entertainment industry suggest that Jason Momoa may reprise his role as Duncan Idaho in Denis Villeneuve's cinematic adaptation of Dune: Messiah. This news has sparked excitement among fans of the movies and the Frank Herbert novels, as it would confirm a significant character arc from the books. Momoa's character, Duncan Idaho, was a prominent part of the first movie, Dune (2021), but died and did not appear in Dune: Part Two (2024). However, in the second entry in the book series, Dune Messiah, Paul Atreides receives a ghola from Guild Navigator Edric, which would become the first in the line of several manufactured humans created in Duncan's image.

According to industry insiders, Jeff Sneider and John Rocha discussed Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Messiah in a recent episode of The Hot Mic podcast, with Sneider claiming that he heard rumors about the return of Duncan Idaho. Sneider asked listeners to take the rumors with a "grain of salt," but added that it's not a huge shocker since it's in the books. The character of Duncan Idaho is killed in the first movie when he takes on a group of elite Sardaukar soldiers to give Timothée Chalamet's Paul Atreides and Rebecca Ferguson's Lady Jessica enough time to escape. However, in the books, Duncan Idaho is brought back to life as a ghola, essentially a clone made from genetic material gathered from the human after its death.

The news of Momoa's potential return has been met with excitement, as it would set up a fascinating character arc in the third installment of Villeneuve's trilogy. The casting of Momoa as Duncan Idaho would also align with the narrative of the source material, which sees Duncan Idaho become a central character in the series. In the books, Duncan Idaho becomes something singular and almost god-like in his immortality after becoming a ghola, and his legacy spans far beyond the years of Paul and Chani. The production of Dune: Messiah is expected to start this summer, with a potential release date set for December 2026.

Several outlets have reported that Dune 3 might go into production this summer, with Sneider and Rocha discussing the possibility of the project starting filming later this year or early next year. Warner Bros. and Legendary have not yet announced the release date of Dune 3, but Deadline reported in June 2024 that the studio had set December 2026 for a "Denis Villeneuve Event Film." The cast of Dune: Messiah is expected to include Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Anya Taylor-Joy, Javier Bardem, and Charlotte Rampling, with Greig Fraser being replaced by Linus Sandgren as the cinematographer. Some of the notable releases and events related to the Dune franchise include:

• Dune (2021)
• Dune: Part Two (2024)
• Dune: Messiah (expected release in 2026)

The potential return of Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho in Dune: Messiah has significant implications for the franchise and its fans. With the character's complex and intriguing storyline, Momoa's reprisal of the role could lead to a deeper exploration of the Dune universe and its themes. As the production of Dune: Messiah moves forward, fans can expect more updates and announcements about the film's cast, crew, and release date. For now, the rumors of Momoa's return have generated excitement and anticipation among fans, who are eager to see how the story of Duncan Idaho unfolds in the third installment of Villeneuve's trilogy.