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Jason Momoa is set to return to his iconic role in Dune: Part Three. He originally portrayed Duncan Idaho, a skilled swordfighter loyal to House Atreides and a mentor to Paul Atreides (played by Timothée Chalamet) in the 2021 film. However, Duncan meets his demise at the hands of Harkonnen forces while helping Paul and Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) escape.
In March 2025, during an interview promoting A Minecraft Movie, Jason Momoa confirmed he would reprise his role as Duncan Idaho in Dune: Part Three, saying, “I’m making a comeback.” While Duncan’s return was expected by fans of Frank Herbert’s Dune series, it was reassuring to officially hear that Denis Villeneuve’s third adaptation will follow the events of Dune Messiah.
On Instagram, Jason Momoa posted a video of himself shaving off his beard, accompanied by the caption: “Haven’t shaved in six years.” The last time he went clean-shaven was before filming the first Dune movie. After seeing his bare face in the mirror, he humorously remarked, “Goddamnit, I hate it!” before adding, “Only for you, Denis,” referring to Dune director Denis Villeneuve.
While it’s unclear how prominent Jason Momoa’s role will be in Dune: Part Three, his return as Duncan Idaho aligns with the events of the books. Duncan, one of the few to survive House Harkonnen’s attack and Emperor Shaddam’s betrayal of House Atreides, played a crucial role in protecting Paul and his mother, Jessica, before meeting his end in the first Dune story.
In the book, Duncan’s return to Dune occurs through a mysterious process. The concept of “Gholas” plays a key role in Dune Messiah. These are artificially created beings who closely resemble the original person from whom they were cloned. In Dune: Part Three, Duncan is brought back as a clone, but he is not truly the same person.
In Dune Messiah, the ghola created from Duncan’s remains is named Hayt, and he plays a significant role in the plot. After being regenerated in a tank, Hayt is infused with Duncan’s original memories and programmed with the mission to kill Paul. If Villeneuve’s adaptation stays true to the source material, Jason Momoa will be portraying Hayt, rather than the original Duncan.
Momoa’s decision to shave his signature beard after six years, combined with his shoutout to Dune director Denis Villeneuve, strongly suggests that his new look is for his return as Duncan Idaho. Additionally, it was recently announced that Dune: Part Three is set to begin filming in the summer of 2025, with a planned release on December 18, 2026.
Composer Hans Zimmer had previously given an update on Dune: Part Three, mentioning, “We are on our way,” but noting, “There’s a lot of desert still in front of us.” However, Jason Momoa’s recent post offers a more immediate and optimistic update, suggesting that production for the film is about to begin soon.
