In 2021's Dune, Jason Momoa's Duncan Idaho made the ultimate sacrifice by single-handedly taking on a fleet of Sardaukar soldiers. He did so to buy Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and his mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), the time they needed to escape into the desert.
However, trailers for Dune: Part Three have shown Duncan back among the living. Or have they? While Dune: Messiah fans will know what's coming, Empire Online (via SFFGazette.com) has now pulled back the curtain on Momoa's role as the "ghola" known as Hayt.
A genetically engineered human replica of Duncan, he's a new man, but still has some memories of his past life. Talking to the site, the Supergirl star said, "It was nerve-wracking. It’s one of those things where you’re like, 'I didn’t sign up to play this guy. I signed up to play the other guy.'"
"I was just waiting to get to that point where you’re like, 'This is my guy, man. I’m going to unleash hell on everyone!'" Momoa added, before explaining how Duncan's dynamic with Paul has changed since they last spent time together.
"It’s a whole 'nother person, what he brings to being the Emperor," he teased. "It’s just strong, silent and violent. Me and him will geek out a little bit [between takes], but then we got to get back to being serious. He was really in it. I was like, 'Wow, I cannot believe he just went toe to toe with me physically and mentally.' That guy comes in like a nuke, man."
It's going to be a lot of fun seeing Momoa back in action for this final chapter of the trilogy, and it sounds like the threequel will take him to some new and unexpected places.
As noted, the mystery surrounding his return isn't much of a mystery to book fans, but for everyone else, Momoa's role in Dune: Part Three now makes a lot more sense. The extent of his role in the movie remains to be seen, of course.
Check out a new look at Momoa as Dune: Part Three's Hayt in the X post below.
Dune: Part Three is set nearly two decades after Paul Atreides seized control of the Imperium. Now a ruthless Emperor, Paul must face the consequences of his reign as old allies return, terrifying new threats emerge, and betrayal lurks in every shadow.
Haunted by visions of Imperial collapse and the reappearance of his long-lost love, Paul is drawn into a sweeping conspiracy, with Chani at the heart of its unfolding mystery. As rebellion brews and enemies close in, Paul must confront the true cost of power and the fate of those he loves the most.
The film stars Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Oscar nominee Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, Isaach de Bankolé, Oscar nominee Charlotte Rampling, Anya Taylor-Joy, Robert Pattinson, and Oscar winner Javier Bardem.
Denis Villeneuve directs from a screenplay by himself and Brian K. Vaughan (this is the first chapter of the trilogy not penned by Jon Spaihts), based on the novels written by Frank Herbert.
Dune: Part Three is produced by Oscar nominees Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Villeneuve and Tanya Lapointe, and Joe Caracciolo, and executive produced by Joshua Grode, Thomas Tull, Herbert W. Gains, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, Kim Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, Richard P. Rubinstein, John Harrison and Jessica Derhammer.
The epic conclusion to the trilogy arrives in theaters on December 18.