‘Dune: Part Three’ Cast Promotes Ticket Sales in New Featurette as Seats Go Live

Avatar photoValentina Kraljik
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Few cinematic franchises have championed the theatrical experience quite like Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune’ films. The first two installments collectively grossed $1.12 billion globally and secured 8 Oscars, along with Best Picture nominations. They have become a go-to choice for audiences eager to experience the grandeur of the biggest screens, featuring IMAX sequences in both films.

This reputation has sparked an aggressive ticketing campaign for the upcoming finale. ‘Dune: Part Three,’ which adapts Frank Herbert’s ‘Dune Messiah,’ is set 17 years after Paul Atreides assumed control of the Imperium. Warner Bros. has been strategically rolling out ticket sales in waves for months. The film was partially shot using IMAX film cameras and will enjoy a three-week global IMAX exclusivity window.

To further encourage fans, the studio has enlisted its stars in a new 31-second video from the film’s official account, announcing that tickets are now available as general pre-sales open worldwide for all formats and showtimes ahead of the December 18 release.

This follows a recent promotional effort where Timothée Chalamet and Villeneuve urged fans to see the film in theaters, with the director emphasizing that these movies are crafted for audiences to enjoy together on the largest screen possible.

The cast delivering these messages is as impressive as ever. Chalamet reprises his role as Paul, with Zendaya as Chani, alongside Jason Momoa, Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Javier Bardem as Stilgar, Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia, and Charlotte Rampling. Robert Pattinson joins the cast as the villainous Scytale, while newcomers Nakoa-Wolf Momoa and Ida Brooke portray Paul and Chani’s children.

This promotional push comes after a series of chaotic ticket drops. In August, a release of IMAX 70mm and premium format tickets led to website crashes and long lines outside AMC Lincoln Square in New York hours before sales began. AMC’s CEO noted efforts to curb ticket brokers, reporting that traffic was about three times higher than during the launch of ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day.’

Today’s general sale saw another surge of interest. In the UK, thousands of fans queued virtually for the BFI IMAX, with estimates indicating over 76,000 people still waiting 20 minutes after sales commenced. The BFI has confirmed that additional 70mm tickets will be released later this year.

The high demand is understandable given the film’s production. Villeneuve shot much of the film on 65mm film stock, with sequences filmed on 15/70mm IMAX film and desert scenes captured in IMAX Digital by cinematographer Linus Sandgren. The release is expected to feature 71 minutes in IMAX’s expanded 1.90:1 aspect ratio.

IMAX 70mm remains a rare offering due to the limited number of prints and projectors, leading to demand consistently outpacing supply for those screenings. This is why the studio is directing fans to other formats, with early Insider screenings on December 14 in IMAX 70mm, December 15 in other IMAX theaters, and December 17 in premium large format.

The film is set to open against ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ on December 18, a matchup fans have dubbed ‘Dunesday,’ with few analysts expecting it to outgross the Marvel blockbuster. Nevertheless, a strong advance on premium screens could provide ‘Dune: Part Three’ with a solid foundation. ‘Part Two’ alone earned $32.2 million globally from IMAX screens in 2024.

Villeneuve has indicated that this marks the conclusion of his adaptation of Herbert’s universe, adding significance to the ticket sales. If the lines and website crashes are any indication, many fans are eager to bid farewell to Arrakis in theaters.

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