Despite the problematic elements in the novel, Jason Momoa’s Dune 3 return still won’t be as controversial as one Daenerys scene.

Taking to his IG, Jason Momoa shared a clip of him shaving his beard ahead of Dune 3‘s shoot, which will mark his return as Duncan Idaho. Moreover, if Denis Villeneuve returns true to Frank Herbert’s second novel, we could see one of the more problematic bits from the story translate on the big screen, featuring the marriage of Paul’s sister Alia and Duncan.

While a controversial match-up, especially when seen through modern lenses, it’s nowhere near as close to what HBO did with an already problematic plot point involving Emilia Clarke‘s Daenerys.

The risky Duncan Idaho storyline is still tamer than what Game of Thrones did to Emilia Clarke

For the unversed, Duncan Idaho and Alia, Paul’s younger sister, whose presence is acknowledged in the sequel, engage in a romance subplot, something that might not fare well with modern audiences if adapted for the big screen.

Although Herbert’s novel explores the ethical complexity of the relationship, especially with Idaho’s potential affection toward Lady Jessica in the past, the age gap could be unsettling for many, as Idaho was an adult when Alia was born.

However, the novel does scrutinize the relationship in-universe, with Alia maturing rapidly, thanks to her Bene Gesserit traits. And given Anya Taylor-Joy’s casting, it’s safe to say that they might be leaning toward a grown-up Alia to avoid the controversy.

On the flip side, Game of Thrones, in the pilot, ramped up an already controversial scene from the books, Daenerys’ wedding night with Drogo, by incorporating the infamous r-pe scene. In addition, fans, Emilia Clarke‘s co-star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau stressed the r-pe scene was tough and degrading for Clarke, and George R.R. Martin, in a book about the series from James Hibberd (via EW), criticized the change for making things worse, not better.

Jason Momoa’s Dune: Part Three Return Explained

Although viewers, not well-versed with the books, will be reasonably taken aback by his return, interestingly, he was essential to the narrative of Frank Herbert’s second novel. To clear the air, Momoa’s return to the series isn’t the Duncan that died in the first movie; it’s a ghola named Hayt.

Gholas, in the Dune universe, are artificial humans who can be crafted by using the cell of dead corpses, and even though they retain some of the original’s memory, they are still different from the real figure, and in this case, Duncan.

It’ll be interesting to see how Villeneuve translates the surrealism of Messiah alongside the political intrigue. And for Momoa fans out there, 2026 is setting up to be a major feast, first with Lobo in Milly Alcock-led Supergirl, then Dune 3 in December.

What’s your opinion on the Duncan/Alia plotline from the novels? Comment below!