Before returning to Gotham City, Robert Pattinson may first find himself on the sands of Arrakis. According to Deadline, the actor—best known for The Batman, Mickey 17, and Tenet—is in early talks to take on the lead antagonist role in Dune: Messiah, the third and final chapter of director Denis Villeneuve’s critically lauded Dune trilogy.
At this point, no formal offer has been extended to Pattinson’s representatives. Both sides must first navigate his packed schedule, as he is already slated to film Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and reprise his role as the Caped Crusader in Matt Reeves’ highly anticipated The Batman Part II later this year.
If a deal goes through, Pattinson would reportedly portray Scytale, the primary villain of Dune: Messiah. In Frank Herbert’s novel, Scytale is a Face Dancer—a shape-shifting agent—affiliated with the Bene Tleilax, a clandestine and ethically dubious group known for its genetic experimentation and covert operations. Leading a coalition of conspirators against Paul Atreides, Scytale seeks to thwart and potentially gain control over Paul, who wields immense power through his prophetic visions, political clout, and the religious fervor spreading under his name.
Dune: Messiah is expected to reunite the principal cast from the first two films, including Academy Award nominee Timothée Chalamet (Paul Atreides), Zendaya (Chani), Florence Pugh (Princess Irulan), Anya Taylor-Joy (Alia Atreides), and Jason Momoa (Duncan Idaho). As production gears up for a summer start, additional casting news about key figures in Paul Atreides’ universe will likely emerge soon.
Both previous installments in Villeneuve’s Dune saga achieved significant critical and box-office success. The original Dune opened against a challenging pandemic backdrop yet managed to gross over $410 million worldwide on a reported $165 million budget. Its sequel, Dune: Part Two, released in 2024, topped even those numbers with a global haul of more than $714 million on a $190 million budget. Although neither film ultimately clinched the Academy Award for Best Picture, both were nominated, with the first winning five Oscars out of ten nominations, and the sequel claiming two out of five.
Pattinson himself has been juggling a variety of projects. He recently wrapped Kristoffer Borgli’s The Drama alongside Zendaya, Lance Oppenheim’s Primetime, and Lynne Ramsay’s Die, My Love with Jennifer Lawrence. Along with Christopher Nolan’s in-progress The Odyssey—where he is rumored to be portraying Hermes—the actor will also reprise the role of Bruce Wayne in The Batman Part II, slated for an October 1, 2027 release. If Pattinson does join Dune: Messiah, it will only add to his already impressive list of high-profile roles and further cement his status as one of Hollywood’s most in-demand stars.