A chance celebrity sighting just gave sci-fi fans a whole new reason to geek out. Zendaya and Anya Taylor-Joy, whom we presume are now BFFs, were recently photographed together in Budapest, and the internet is officially in meltdown mode.
Why? Because this seemingly casual moment may be anything but. It’s now all but confirmed that Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Three” is in production, and both actresses are part of it.
Cue the sandworms!
The Queens of Arrakis Reunite
Zendaya and Taylor-Joy looked like they were just out enjoying lunch. But that lunch might’ve been in between takes on the next epic chapter of the “Dune” saga. The actresses posed with fans in the Hungarian capital, and the fan theories started rolling faster than a spice harvester on overdrive.
“Anya Taylor-Joy and Zendaya together in Budapest. Production for ‘DUNE: PART THREE’ is currently underway,” read one post from Screen Thrill on Instagram. And that wasn’t just speculation. Sources close to the project confirmed that filming has officially kicked off at Budapest’s Origo Film Studios, which is the same place “Dune” and “Dune: Part Two” were shot.
So yes, Zendaya is back as Chani. And yes, Taylor-Joy has officially joined the “Dune” universe, for real this time. You know, more than what she had appeared in the last one. Which was a total of .5 seconds.
Kidding…but we all were thinking it.
Anya Taylor-Joy Joins the Cast as Alia Atreides
After her mysterious blink-and-you ’ll-miss-it tease in “Dune: Part Two,” Taylor-Joy has officially been cast as Alia Atreides, the younger sister of Paul (played by Timothée Chalamet). In Frank Herbert’s novel Dune Messiah, Alia is a force to be reckoned with. Born with ancestral memories and psychic abilities, she’s one of the saga’s most compelling and unpredictable figures.
Villeneuve has clearly been playing the long game here. By holding off on fully introducing Alia until the third installment, he’s built anticipation for a role that fits Taylor-Joy’s surreal, otherworldly screen presence like a stillsuit. Let’s face it, she’s no stranger to that. Have we forgotten how incredible she was in “The Witch”?
Meanwhile, Zendaya is set to reprise her now-iconic role as Chani, the fierce Fremen warrior and Paul’s partner. And yes, according to Deadline, Paul and Chani will have children in this next installment. Enter Nakoa-Wolf Momoa (yes, Jason Momoa’s real-life son) as Leto II Atreides and rising star Ida Brooke as Ghanima Atreides.
What We Know About Dune: Part Three
Denis Villeneuve is wasting no time. Riding the critical and box office high of “Dune: Part Two,” which pulled in over $714 million globally, he’s now in full swing with “Dune: Part Three”. But don’t expect the title to match Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah. The studio is officially calling it “Dune: Part Three,” keeping things consistent with its blockbuster branding.
The movie is slated to release in December 2026, and it’s already sounding stacked. Returning cast members include Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, Javier Bardem as Stilgar, and, surprise, surprise, Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho. Yes, despite his apparent death in Part Two. Don’t ask. It’s “Dune.”
One wild card? Robert Pattinson! The “Twilight” actor is reportedly in talks to join the cast as Scytale, a shape-shifting villain and Face Dancer from the mysterious Bene Tleilax faction. Let’s be real, the prospect of Pattinson in a cloak of lies has fans salivating.
And even though “The Batman: Part II” has tied up original cinematographer Greig Fraser, the talented Linus Sandgren is now handling visuals. Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer will also return for the score, because, frankly, you can’t do a “Dune” movie without that musical thunder.
A New Chapter in Sci-Fi Royalty
So yes, Zendaya, Taylor-Joy, and Budapest! This isn’t just an on-set lunch break; it’s a cinematic breadcrumb trail that’s just making us anxious and excited at the same time. Villeneuve’s sprawling space epic is officially moving into its next act, and based on everything we know so far, it might be the boldest chapter yet.
So, whether you’re here for the spice politics, the prophetic mind games, or the sheer aesthetic of it all, mark your calendars. The desert is calling, and the queens of Arrakis are already there.
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Zendaya & Anya Taylor-Joy Spark ‘Dune 3’ Frenzy After Being Spotted Together Overseas