Jason Momoa Reflects on Getting Beat Up by Timothée Chalamet in Dune: Part 3

Jason Momoa, if you hadn't noticed, is a much bigger man than Timothée Chalamet. In Dune: Part 3 , however, size doesn’t matter.

Chalamet plays Paul Atreides in Dune: Part 3, which takes place 20 years after the events of the previous movie. Atreides is well established as the most powerful being in the universe, a messianic, totalitarian leader who can stab people real good.

Momoa kind of returns as a clone of his previous character from Dune: Part 1, Duncan Idaho, who doesn’t share any of his DNA dad’s memories or personality traits. “It’s probably the weirdest character I’ve ever had to navigate, because I know I was hired to play Duncan for a certain reason, then I had to figure out how to play a guy who doesn’t know who the guy is,” Momoa said in an interview with NY Times .

Dune: Part Three Trailer Images (August 2026)

“It was very challenging. I’m not the most subtle actor, or human, so it was probably my most subtle performance. I haven’t seen it yet. I don’t know which takes he used.”

While Idaho and Atreides were close friends in Part 1, there’s more of a strain to that relationship in Part 3 and the pair come to blows. According to Momoa, it was challenging to wrap his head around the logistics of losing to Chalamet.

“And another thing too, working with Tim, I have to fight him,” Momoa explained. “[His character Paul] is at a whole other level, and better than me as a fighter. And you know, realistically, how do we put that together?”

Chalamet cut in to say that was “a polite way of putting” that Momoa could take him in a fight in real life. “He’s a better actor,” Momoa said. “I’m better at fighting. But he’s really fast. I was super impressed: Just because you’re a great actor, it doesn’t mean that you’re able to dance. Ultimately, it’s a dance.”

Elsewhere in the lead up to launch, we’ve had a look at Dune: Part 3’s horrific popcorn buckets . One comes with two sandworm holes for double the fun, and the other comes with a thumper that actually moves up and down.

Dune: Part 2 surpassed the previous movie in the trilogy at the box office , generating almost $500 million. Dune: Part 1 grossed $433 million worldwide during its entire theatrical run. Dune: Part 3 is scheduled to release in cinemas on December 18, 2026, with early IMAX preview screenings beginning on December 14, 2026.

Kirk McKeand is a Contributor on IGN News. Find him on Twitter @MckKirk