To close out the week, Warner Bros. and Legendary have announced release dates for two highly anticipated films: an untitled Denis Villeneuve event film and the next installment in the MonsterVerse series, known as Godzilla x Kong 3.
First on the list is the untitled Denis Villeneuve event film, which has been scheduled for release on December 18, 2026. While there has been speculation that Villeneuve was working on a drama film based on the nonfiction book Nuclear War: A Scenario for Legendary, both The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline suggest that he has shifted focus back to the sandy dunes of Arrakis. The December release date is believed to be reserved for Dune: Part Three, rumored to be titled Dune: Messiah, which would be the next chapter in Villeneuve's acclaimed Dune series.
Before an official announcement can be made regarding Dune: Part Three and its release date, Villeneuve must finalize the script. Recent reports indicate that the script is nearing completion, as Villeneuve has already provided a copy to composer Hans Zimmer for scoring purposes. Once the script is locked, the studio will need to coordinate the schedules of the film's busy cast, including Timothée Chalamet (Call Me by Your Name; Little Women), Zendaya (Euphoria; Spider-Man: No Way Home), Rebecca Ferguson (Mission: Impossible - Fallout; The Greatest Showman), Florence Pugh (Little Women; Midsommar), and Josh Brolin (Avengers: Endgame; Sicario).
In addition to the Dune news, Warner Bros. and Legendary have also set a release date for Godzilla & Kong 3, the next chapter in the ongoing MonsterVerse saga, which will hit theaters on March 26, 2027. While details about the film are still scarce, it has been confirmed that Grant Sputore (I Am Mother; Castaway) will take over directing duties, working from a screenplay by David Callaham (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse; Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), who previously contributed to Godzilla (2014).
The announcement of these release dates comes on the heels of massive successes for Warner Bros. and Legendary. This year, both Dune: Part Two and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire performed exceptionally well at the box office, ranking as the second- and third-highest-grossing films of the year globally. Dune 2 earned over $711.8 million worldwide on a production budget of approximately $190 million, while Godzilla x Kong brought in $569.9 million worldwide on a $150 million budget.
Looking ahead, Dune 3 is set to compete with Disney/Lucasfilm's Star Wars: New Jedi Order in 2026, which will reportedly see Daisy Ridley return as Rey Skywalker and launch a new era of films in the Star Wars saga. This head-to-head clash is unlikely to happen as one of the films is expected to move its release date.
As for Godzilla & Kong 3, there is no immediate competition on its release date, but Marvel Studios' highly anticipated Avengers: Secret Wars will open a few weeks later on May 7, 2027. This staggered release should give Godzilla & Kong 3 ample time to dominate the box office before the arrival of the next big Marvel event.