Jason Momoa has spoken about the challenges of his role in the upcoming Dune: Part 3, particularly the dynamic between his character, a clone of Duncan Idaho, and Timothée Chalamet's Paul Atreides. The film is set 20 years after the events of the previous installment, with Atreides established as a powerful, almost totalitarian leader.
Momoa's version of Duncan Idaho in Dune: Part 3 is a clone, lacking the memories and personality of the original. He described the character as "the weirdest" he has had to navigate, noting the difficulty of playing someone unaware of his own identity. "I know I was hired to play Duncan for a certain reason, then I had to figure out how to play a guy who doesn’t know who the guy is," Momoa told the NY Times. He admitted that his performance in this role was likely his most subtle, and he remains unsure which takes the filmmakers will use.
The relationship between Idaho and Atreides, which was friendly in the first film, becomes strained in Dune: Part 3, leading to physical conflict. Momoa found it particularly challenging to portray his character losing a fight to Chalamet. "And you know, realistically, how do we put that together?" he questioned.
Chalamet commented that Momoa's description was a "polite way of putting" the situation, acknowledging that Momoa could easily defeat him in a real-world fight. Momoa conceded that while he is a better fighter, Chalamet is a more skilled actor and surprisingly fast. "Ultimately, it’s a dance," Momoa said, referring to the choreography of their fight sequences.
In other Dune news, the franchise has generated buzz for its unusual concession items, including popcorn buckets designed to resemble sandworm orifices and a thumper that vibrates. Dune: Part 2 proved to be a box office success, surpassing the first film with nearly $500 million globally, compared to Dune: Part 1's $433 million worldwide gross. Dune: Part 3 is slated for release on December 18, 2026, with early IMAX screenings beginning December 14, 2026.