Robert Pattinson confirms Dune 3 role and reveals intense desert filming experience

Actor Robert Pattinson has officially confirmed his role in Dune: Part Three, the next installment of Denis Villeneuve’s acclaimed sci-fi saga. Speaking with IndieWire during promotion for his latest film Die My Love, Pattinson shared how filming in the desert for Dune 3 was one of the most intense experiences of his career.

“When I was doing Dune, it was so hot in the desert that I just couldn’t question anything,” Pattinson said. “It was so relaxing—my brain actually wasn’t operating. I did not have a single functioning brain cell. I was just listening to Denis: ‘Whatever you want!’”

Pattinson, who reinvented his career post-Twilight with complex and demanding roles in films like The Lighthouse and The Batman, joins a returning cast that includes Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Florence Pugh. His addition to the Dune universe has ignited a wave of speculation about which character he might portray.

While Pattinson’s exact role remains unconfirmed, multiple reports and fan discussions suggest he could be playing Scytale, the shapeshifting Face Dancer and the central antagonist of Dune Messiah. In Frank Herbert’s novel, Scytale is a cunning conspirator who plots to overthrow Paul Atreides, making him one of the saga’s most enigmatic villains.

However, other fan theories propose that Pattinson could take on the role of Edric, a Spacing Guild Navigator who also conspires against Paul. Pattinson’s comment about enduring the “scorching heat” of desert shoots has fueled speculation that he may portray a character connected to the harsh planetary environments central to the film’s plot.

Regardless of the role, Pattinson’s casting marks another bold move in his diverse career and adds further star power to Villeneuve’s ambitious adaptation.

Dune: Part Three is currently slated for release in the United States on December 18, 2026.