Release dates for the GODZILLA x KONG 3 event film and Denis Villeneuve (DUNE 3?!)

To close out the week, Warner Bros. and Legendary dated two upcoming releases: an untitled event film from Denis Villeneuve and the next installment in the MonsterVerse series, aka Godzilla x Kong 3.

First of all, Denis Villeneuve’s untitled event film has been dated December 18, 2026.

While it was previously thought that Villeneuve had developed a drama film based on the non-fiction book Nuclear war: a scenario For Legendary, The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline believe he has returned to the sand dunes of Arrakis and that the December date is actually reserved for Dune: Part Three (common title Dune: The Messiah)which will be his next film.

But before he can officially announce the film and its release date, Villeneuve will have to complete the script, which, as far as we know, is almost finished since he recently provided a copy to composer Hans Zimmer. After that, the studio will need to secure dates for the film’s extremely busy cast, including stars Timothée Chalamet (Call me by your name; Little woman), Zendaya (Euphoria; Spider-Man: No Way Home), Rebecca Ferguson (Mission: Impossible – Fallout; The Greatest Showman), Florence Pugh (Little woman; Midday) and Josh Brolin (Avengers: Endgame; Hitman).

Then the studios date Godzilla and Kong 3the next chapter in the ongoing MonsterVerse saga, due March 26, 2027.

Further details are not currently available, but Grant Spoutore (I am a mother; Shipwrecked) takes over as director, using a script by David Callaham (Spider-Man: Through the Spider-Verse; Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), who has already contributed to Godzilla (2014).

Both Dune: Part Two And Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire have been massive hits for Warner Bros. and Legendary this year, with both currently the second and third highest-grossing films of the year worldwide. Dunes 2 has grossed over $711.8 million worldwide on an estimated production budget of $190 million, while Godzilla x Kong raked in $569.9 million worldwide from its $150 million production budget.

Looking forward, Dune 3 is tentatively scheduled to open against Disney/Lucasfilm Star Wars: New Jedi Order in 2026, which is expected to bring back Daisy Ridley as Rey Skywalker and kick off a new era of movies in a galaxy far, far away. We didn’t expect this conflict to happen, so it seems like one of the two will eventually move, but it remains to be seen which one will jump ship first.

As for Godzilla and Kong 3there is no immediate competition, but the highly anticipated Marvel Studios Avengers: Secret Wars will open a few weeks later, on May 7.