Despite widespread speculation that one studio would back down, Warner Bros. is reportedly holding firm on its December 18, 2026 release date for Dune: Part Three, setting up a head-to-head showdown with Disney’s Marvel juggernaut Avengers: Doomsday.
The potential clash has quickly become one of the most talked-about box office battles in years. On one side is Marvel Studios, rolling out early trailers and teasers to build hype for its next Avengers chapter. On the other is Warner Bros., riding a wave of confidence after a strong year at the box office and a string of well-received releases.
According to industry insider Matthew Belloni of The Town podcast, Warner Bros. has no plans—at least for now—to move Dune: Part Three. That decision may surprise some observers, especially given Disney’s marketing muscle and the massive draw of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But Warner Bros. appears convinced it has a worthy contender.
Directed once again by Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Part Three adapts Frank Herbert’s novel Dune: Messiah and continues the story of Paul Atreides. Villeneuve’s previous Dune films were both critical and commercial successes, helping rehabilitate a sci-fi property long considered difficult to adapt after David Lynch’s divisive 1984 version.
Another key factor is star power. Timothée Chalamet, who returns as Paul Atreides, has quietly become a December box office mainstay. Since 2023, he’s led holiday hits like Wonka and A Complete Unknown, with Marty Supreme also slated for a late-December release in 2025.
Disney, meanwhile, doesn’t appear ready to budge either. The studio has begun unveiling early footage from Avengers: Doomsday, with reports suggesting a steady stream of teasers leading into the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash. That marketing push has only fueled talk of an epic holiday showdown.
For moviegoers, the situation is starting to feel familiar. In 2023, Warner Bros. was at the center of the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, when Barbie and Oppenheimer turned a release-date collision into a cultural event—and massive box office wins for both studios.
With Warner Bros. coming off a year where seven consecutive releases crossed the $40 million mark, the studio seems eager to prove it can once again go toe-to-toe with Disney’s blockbuster machine.
Whether one studio eventually blinks or both ride it out, December 2026 is shaping up to deliver the biggest movie face-off since “Barbenheimer.” And if Warner Bros. gets its way, the spice will flow—no matter who else is on the battlefield.
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