MOVIE NEWS – “It’s not my fault if you haven’t read the books,” Jason Momoa said, officially confirming his return in Dune: Messiah. With the rumors now put to rest, Momoa is back as Duncan Idaho — and his comeback paves the way for a bold new chapter.

It had been an open secret, but now it’s official: Jason Momoa is returning to Arrakis in Dune: Messiah. The actor revealed the news in a recent interview, and not only was he enthusiastic about it — he made it clear he wasn’t worried about ruining the surprise. In his own words: “It’s not my fault if you haven’t read the books.”

The confirmation came during an appearance on the Today Show, where Momoa was promoting his upcoming film, A Minecraft Movie. Host Craig Melvin couldn’t resist and asked directly whether Duncan Idaho would be back in Denis Villeneuve’s next installment. Momoa responded without hesitation: “I’m coming back.” He then added with a grin: “You’ve kind of put me on the spot here, but yes — you’ll see me again.” He compared the situation to Game of Thrones and George R. R. Martin’s novels, where fans familiar with the books already knew what was coming. After all, Dune: Messiah was first published back in 1969.

His statement set off alarms for viewers who haven’t read Frank Herbert’s saga. In the first film, Duncan Idaho dies heroically so Paul Atreides and his mother Jessica can escape. So how exactly is he coming back? The answer lies in the novels — and it’s a fascinating one.

Villeneuve and His Vision for Dune: Messiah

To understand Duncan Idaho’s return, you need to know about gholas. Dune: Messiah, the second book in the Dune series, takes place twelve years after the events of the first novel. Paul Atreides has become emperor, but his reign is plagued by conspiracies. It’s within this context that Idaho reappears — with one key difference: he’s not quite the same person.

In Herbert’s universe, gholas are artificially grown from the cells of deceased individuals. Unlike clones, however, they can regain their original memories through a special reawakening process. This is the work of the Bene Tleilax, a faction specializing in genetic engineering that plays a pivotal role in the series. The new version of Duncan Idaho is known as Hayt — a ghola created to test Paul. What the Tleilaxu didn’t anticipate is that Hayt’s original consciousness would resurface. His return invites philosophical questions about identity and the soul, core themes in Herbert’s storytelling that could now be explored cinematically.

Director Denis Villeneuve has stated multiple times that he doesn’t consider Dune: Messiah to be the third part of a trilogy. Instead, he sees it as the beginning of a new narrative arc. In interviews, he explained that the first two films were a diptych, together forming a two-part adaptation of the original Dune novel. Messiah, by contrast, is a turning point — diving deeper into Paul Atreides’ internal conflicts and the direction of his empire.

Momoa’s return is more than just a nod to longtime readers. It opens the door to complex ideas such as genetic engineering, the manipulation of memory, and the mysterious role of the Bene Tleilax in humanity’s future evolution.

Though Dune: Messiah is still some time away, the series Dune: The Omen may have already hinted at the concept of gholas. In that show, the character Desmond Hart reemerges after being presumed dead in a sandworm attack. But his altered behavior — his resistance to Bene Gesserit powers and his sudden interest in technology — has led fans to speculate that he might also be a ghola. If The Omen was laying the groundwork, Messiah could be where the concept takes center stage — with Momoa stepping into a far more nuanced role than in his initial appearance.

The Wait to Return to Arrakis

The news of Momoa’s comeback sent waves of excitement through the Dune fanbase. In April 2024, Legendary confirmed that development had begun on Dune 3, following the box office success of Dune: Part Two, which grossed $711 million. While no official release date has been announced for Dune: Messiah, production is already underway. If all goes according to plan, the film is expected to hit theaters in 2027. Until then, fans can revisit the first two installments by Villeneuve, currently streaming on Max.

Source: 3djuegos