Entertainment
We’re Officially 3 Months Away From These $8.9 Billion Sci-Fi Franchise Returns
Déjà vu, it’s Barbenheimer all over again. This time, however, it’s for the sci-fi fans. In three months, cinema will return in full force with the highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday, as well as the finale of Denis Villeneuve’s magnum opus, Dune: Part Three. Though there is still some component of competitiveness, the union of these two hard-hitting franchises has ultimately been embraced by the fans.
On December 18, Doomsday and Dune will hit theaters in an event that hasn’t been seen since Barbie and Oppenheimer. Instead of two stories that could not be further apart, however, December will show the marriage of sci-fi ventures that will speak to most fans. The crossover appeal of both movies may be just the thing to unite the divide in pop culture.
‘Dune: Part Three’ Is a Historic End to a Flawless Franchise
There are franchises, and then there are franchises. Before Denis Villeneuve, a three-part Dune saga would have seemed impossible. Instead, he delivered a story that somehow evoked the exact feeling of reading the book. From acting, to score, to cinematography, Dune was the epitome of a true epic.
Even when Villeneuve substantially deviated from the source material, he could still do no wrong. In some ways, the filmmaker even improved upon Frank Herbert’s material, as controversial as that is to say. He took an incredibly dense book full of specific jargon and lore and made a compelling masterpiece out of it.
Adapting the first Dune novel was one thing, but now Villeneuve is wrapping up the story with the Dune: Messiah translation, Dune: Part Three. Everyone is anticipating how Paul (Timothée Chalamet) and Chani’s (Zendaya) story will converge after everything that has transpired. The most important, however, is concluding Paul’s story on a high note.
The conclusion of Dune: Part Two indicated he was on the precipice of becoming a monster, but the final entry into the saga will finally tell his story the way it was always meant to be told. At the same time, Villeneuve seamlessly weaves in a heart-rending love story, philosophy, and the concept that absolute power corrupts. Dune is a powerhouse and is only one part of this epic day in film history.
‘Avengers: Doomsday’ May Be a Return to Form For Marvel
Marvel had a tough act to follow when it came to Avengers: Endgame and Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) ultimate demise. It was the culmination of years of hard work and seemed to mark the end of the ensemble film. While many would have been satisfied with that, the long-standing franchise had something else up its sleeve. After the demise of Kang, the brand had the inspired idea to fast-track the newest villain, the powerful Doctor Victor von Doom.
More frightening and compelling than Thanos could ever hope to be, this was the right call. It also offered the potential to get the franchise back on track. Casting Downey Jr. was initially a controversial decision, but the release of the Avengers: Doomsday trailer was confirmation that this is exactly where the franchise needs to go.
Doom is just one component made to make Doomsday sing. This will be another culmination of many storylines, making way for something entirely new. At long last, the MCU is finally inviting the X-Men into the fold. Bringing back many of the legacy actors of Fox’s X-Men will be just the start.
Casting for the MCU X-Men has been extremely exciting, and it is all going to start with Doomsday. It also happens to set up the long-anticipated arrival of Secret Wars. After the tepid response to the multiverse, it certainly appears that the Incursions are on the docket. Doomsday may have just the secret sauce to fix the Marvel brand and usher in a new era. The New Avengers offer fresh faces to carry on the brand, while MCU hopefuls are ready to finally see the reunion of Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston).
If anything is certain, December 18th will be the day for sci-fi. Dune and Doomsday offer slightly different tastes, but each has its merits. Dune: Part Three is a bittersweet conclusion, showing the end of Paul’s downward spiral in a socially aware tale. Doomsday is a comforting return to form, but may very well be the best Marvel movie since Endgame. Only time will tell when fans join in celebration of sci-fi’s greatest night.
- Release Date
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December 18, 2026
- Director
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Denis Villeneuve
- Writers
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Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve, Frank Herbert
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