Dune 3 Has To Include This 1 Essential Scene In Order To Succeed

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Warning! Spoilers ahead for Dune Messiah, the source material for Dune 3.

Fans are eagerly anticipating the third Dune movie, but for those familiar with Frank Herbert’s novels, one scene is crucial: the knife-throwing sequence. This moment is considered Paul Atreides’ most impressive, and it’s also key to connecting the story’s past and future, making it vital for Dune Part Three.

The knife-throwing scene is the most exciting part of Dune Messiah, the first book Frank Herbert wrote to continue the story of Dune. In Messiah, Paul Atreides is a very complex character.

If the next Dune movie accurately reflects the book’s complex depiction of Paul Atreides, it should include his one truly heroic act: dramatically rescuing his children.

The Ending Of “Dune Messiah” Explained: What The Knife-Throwing Scene & Why Do Fans Love It?

It’s Paul Atreides’ Best Moment In The Books

Let’s dive into that knife-throwing scene, because I really think it’s crucial for Dune: Part Three. It happens right at the end of Dune Messiah. Throughout the book, Paul Atreides is targeted with a nuclear attack, and while he manages to survive, it leaves him permanently blinded.

Initially, Paul’s extraordinary ability to foresee events allows him to hide the fact that he’s losing his vision. However, this becomes impossible later in the story. As is typical with Dune, the situation is complex, but it’s important to understand that the central conflict in Dune Messiah arises because Paul enters it completely blind – without any ability to see the future.

The ending of Messiah is just incredible. There’s this moment where Paul Atreides discovers an assassin is about to harm his newborn twins, knife in hand. It’s then that he suddenly realizes he can see again, but not with his own eyes – through his son’s! He uses this newfound vision to react instantly, throwing a knife of his own and taking the assassin down. It’s a really powerful, shocking scene.

Why Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Three” Needs The Knife-Throwing Scene To Succeed

A Much-Needed Heroic Win For Paul Atreides

The knife-throwing scene in Dune Messiah is a standout moment of suspense and a favorite among many Dune fans. Leaving it out of Dune: Part Three could upset readers and would mean missing a chance to create a really exciting scene on film.

The scene builds suspense and leads to exciting action, visually reminiscent of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films. More importantly, the knife-throwing sequence is a crucial moment for Paul Atreides’ development. While it isn’t the conclusion of his story, it marks the end of his journey as the central hero of the Dune series.

Within the story of the Dune films, Paul Atreides’ knife-fighting scene represents his most straightforward act of heroism. The first two movies retell the story of Paul becoming a revered leader, much like the book. The sequel, Dune Messiah, explores the difficult side of that leadership, which will be challenging to portray in a film. A clear, heroic moment like this knife fight is therefore essential.

The Knife-Throwing Scene Is The Culmination Of Paul And Chani’s Tragic Love Story In “Dune: Messiah”

A Heartbreaking Ending Dune: Part Three Can’t Avoid

Frank Herbert’s Dune concludes with Paul Atreides becoming the Emperor of the Known Universe, the leader of humanity’s sprawling future civilization among the stars. The recent film, Dune: Part Two, directed by Denis Villeneuve, also ends with Paul taking the throne, but it adds a preview of the coming war that will be waged under his banner.

This moment is crucial to understanding Paul’s journey. Dune Messiah begins with the devastating consequences of a galaxy-wide genocide led by Paul and his Fremen followers – Herbert estimates billions died. It’s currently uncertain whether the upcoming Dune: Part Three will fully address this dark part of Paul’s history, but the film also needs to avoid portraying him as simply a hero.

The next Dune movie should follow the book and show Paul Atreides losing his power, while also introducing his children and setting up future stories about the Atreides family. To do this, the film needs to depict the sad ending of Paul and Chani’s relationship, as it happens in the novel.

In Dune Messiah, Chani tragically dies while giving birth to twins – a fate Paul fights to prevent but cannot change. Similar to how Paul’s story ends on a heroic note, the knife-throwing scene could offer a powerful, uplifting moment to balance the sadness of the final act in Dune: Part Three.

Hardcore “Dune” Fans Won’t Be Satisfied If The Knife-Throwing Scene Isn’t Adapted For The Screen

Why Cutting It Wouldn’t Make Sense

Custom Image by Milica Djordjevic

The romance between Chani and Paul should remain central to Dune: Part Three, but filmmakers need to stay true to the established path of their relationship. While Dune has a complicated story, as Denis Villeneuve demonstrated, it can be made clearer and even simpler in places. However, certain key plot points and connections are essential and shouldn’t be changed or removed.

This applies to everything before the knife-throwing scene, as well as the scene itself, and its importance to the rest of the Dune story. The scene foreshadows that Paul’s son, Leto II, will become the central character, and that the series will take increasingly unexpected turns.

For fans of the Dune books, one scene is absolutely essential: the knife-throwing sequence from Dune Messiah. If it’s left out of Dune: Part Three, it will be a major disappointment for those who closely follow the novels and are loyal to Frank Herbert’s work. While Denis Villeneuve has creative freedom with the Dune adaptation, this is one element that needs to be included.

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2026-02-22 19:20