‘Dune 3’ First Look Shows Timothée Chalamet as a Very Different Paul Atreides

Timothée Chalamet has released a stark new image from Dune: Part Three, offering the first glimpse of a changed Paul Atreides as the film’s publicity ramps up and a trailer is expected imminently. Dune 3’s image is a close-up of Chalamet in a Fremen stillsuit, his eyes visible and marked with wrinkles and red scarring.

Dune 3 First Look: Paul Appears Scarred and Weathered

The newly circulated photo centers on Paul Atreides’ face, framed by the Fremen stillsuit, with blue-tinted eyes and visible skin damage that give the character a more battle-worn appearance than in the earlier films. The image emphasizes a physical transformation — wrinkles around the eyes and red scarring — suggesting a darker turn for Paul’s arc on screen.

Trailer Timing and Promotional Push

The first look arrives just ahead of an expected trailer release. Coverage places the trailer’s arrival in the near term, with one mention saying it could appear later this week and another saying it will be released next week. The trailer is also expected to be attached to screenings of Project Hail Mary, which would place it in front of theatrical audiences as part of the wider promotional campaign.

Villeneuve, Cast and What Comes Next

Denis Villeneuve returns as director for Dune: Part Three and has indicated this will be his final film in the Dune universe. He described his earlier pair of films as a diptych and suggested a third installment would have its own identity. The movie’s ensemble includes returning cast members Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Florence Pugh and Anya Taylor-Joy, with Jason Momoa reprising his role from the first film and Robert Pattinson joining the cast.

Some coverage frames Dune: Part Three as loosely based on Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah, pointing to a narrative in which Paul’s rise leads to darker consequences and wider conflict. The previous Dune films have collectively earned $1. 1 billion at the global box office, and Dune: Part Three is scheduled to reach theaters on Dec. 18, 2026. As the trailer and further promotional material roll out, the new image offers an early sign that the film will present Paul Atreides in a markedly different light.