Paul Atreides’ journey from a young nobleman fleeing the destruction of his family to the messianic leader of Arrakis was anything but a walk through the desert. By the end of Dune: Part Two, Paul had defeated Feyd-Rautha, challenged the Emperor, and claimed the throne by demanding Princess Irulan’s hand in marriage. But while he secured his place among the universe’s most powerful figures, he also set a devastating holy war into motion.

With political marriages, fractured loyalties, and an empire teetering on the edge of catastrophe, Dune: Part Three promises to make the spice-fueled drama even messier. And with Denis Villeneuve adapting Dune Messiah, several familiar faces and a few dangerous newcomers are ready to make things complicated.

Here are seven characters we cannot wait to see return to the sands of Arrakis.

1. Scytale: Robert Pattinson Is Ready to Make Things Weird

Robert Pattinson joining the Dune universe as Scytale is already reason enough to get excited. The mysterious Face Dancer is a member of the Bene Tleilax, a faction known for its unsettling biological experiments and ability to manipulate appearances.

In Dune Messiah, Scytale becomes a central figure in a conspiracy to overthrow Paul.

Robert Pattinson has built a career out of playing characters who seem to have a few screws loose, from The Lighthouse to Good Time. Scytale offers him another deliciously strange role, one that could bring a whole new level of menace to Villeneuve’s already eerie universe.

With Paul’s empire facing threats from within, Scytale could be the most unpredictable player on the board.

2. Duncan Idaho: Jason Momoa’s Return From the Dead

Duncan Idaho’s death in the first Dune movie was heartbreaking, especially given his loyalty to House Atreides. But this is Dune, where death apparently comes with a rather complicated return policy.

Jason Momoa is back as Duncan, although the character returns as Hayt, a ghola—a genetically recreated version of the original. The twist is that Hayt’s existence raises questions about memory, identity, and whether someone can truly be brought back from the dead.

Momoa’s charisma made Duncan one of the franchise’s most beloved characters, and his return could give the film both emotional weight and plenty of intrigue.

3. Alia Atreides: The Little Sister With a Big, Terrifying Future

Anya Taylor-Joy’s Alia was briefly glimpsed in Dune: Part Two, but her role is set to become much more significant. Born with the memories and consciousness of her ancestors, Alia is no ordinary child. She is a powerful and deeply unsettling figure whose abilities could make even the Bene Gesserit nervous.

With Taylor-Joy taking on a larger role, the sequel has an opportunity to explore Alia’s complicated relationship with her brother and the legacy of House Atreides. She might be family, but that doesn’t necessarily mean she’s on Paul’s side.

4. Paul Atreides: The Emperor Who May Have Gone Too Far

Timothée Chalamet’s Paul is no longer the reluctant hero audiences met in the first film. By the end of Dune: Part Two, he has embraced his role as Emperor and unleashed a holy war across the universe.

The third film will explore the consequences of that transformation, with Paul struggling to maintain control while facing conspiracies and political enemies. His visions of the future have always been a blessing and a curse, but now the stakes are far greater.

Watching Paul grapple with the monster his own rise to power may have created could be the most compelling part of the trilogy’s conclusion.

5. Princess Irulan: A Marriage That’s Anything but Romantic

Florence Pugh’s Princess Irulan may have secured a marriage to Paul, but that does not mean she has secured his heart. The political union at the end of Dune: Part Two was designed to cement Paul’s claim to the throne, leaving Chani devastated and Irulan in a complicated position.

As a member of the Bene Gesserit and the daughter of the former Emperor, Irulan has her own political ambitions and loyalties. Her relationship with Paul could become a dangerous game of power, manipulation, and survival.

Pugh’s performance has already given Irulan a quiet intensity, and the sequel could finally let her play a much more active role in the imperial chess match.

6. Chani: Zendaya’s Fremen Warrior Is Done Playing Along

If there’s one character who refuses to be swept up in Paul’s messiah narrative, it’s Chani. Zendaya’s Fremen warrior watched the man she loved embrace a prophecy that threatens her people, and she ultimately chose to walk away.

That decision sets up one of the most emotionally charged storylines in Dune: Part Three. Chani is not simply Paul’s love interest; she is a fierce warrior with her own beliefs and loyalties. The official synopsis places her at the heart of the unfolding mystery surrounding Paul’s reign.

Her relationship with Paul could be the emotional battlefield that matters most, even as the empire faces conspiracies and rebellion.

With Paul’s empire on shaky ground, old allies returning in unexpected forms, and new players ready to stir up trouble, Dune: Part Three looks set to take the saga into even darker territory. These seven characters bring everything from political scheming to emotional heartbreak to the table, making the wait for Arrakis’ next chapter feel almost as endless as crossing its desert. The spice must flow, and so must the chaos.

Who are you most excited to see in Dune: Part Three? Let us know in the comments.