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Hollywood loves to tease stories about actors being in negotiations for major roles: think Ryan Gosling in Star Wars: Starfighter or Robert Pattinson in The Batman. Most of the time, once we hear someone’s in the dealmaking process, it goes through, and we learn more about the movie, including more casting after that. Another potential Pattinson role—the “chief villain” in Dune: Part Three—was rumored back in April but hadn’t been officially confirmed… until just now, thanks to Pattinson casually mentioning it in an unrelated interview.
It happened in an chat with IndieWire alongside Jennifer Lawrence, promoting their new drama Die My Love. Both were asked if they get anxious while preparing for roles and also while juggling indie projects and big-budget movies, and Pattinson joked that after doing “19 movies in a row,” he’s learned to chill out a little—even when he’s immersed in extreme heat.
“It’s actually really nice,” he told IndieWire. “When I was doing Dune it was so hot in the desert that I just couldn’t question anything. And it was so relaxing, like my brain actually wasn’t operating; I did not have a single functioning brain cell. And I was just listening to Denis [Villeneuve]: ‘Whatever you want!'”
He added, “I actually found it relaxing. Now I’m taking that into other roles.”
There’s been no announcement regarding who Pattinson will be playing in Dune: Part Three; his involvement was rumored so many months ago, it was when people were still referring to the film as Dune: Messiah. At the time, the Hollywood Reporter suggested, “Sources say the actor has been circling the role of the chief villain in the film, one that is possibly Scytale from Frank Herbert’s books.”
We’ve got a bit of time to see if Pattinson will let details of his Dune role slip in another interview, since the movie’s not hitting theaters until December 18, 2026.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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