The sandworm has surfaced again. AMC Theatres confirmed this week that its frequently memed "Dune" popcorn bucket - the one shaped like a gaping, tooth-lined sandworm that became an internet sensation during the release of "Dune: Part Two" - will return for "Dune: Part Three," and this time it is arriving in a range of new designs. The chain has not yet detailed how many variants will be produced or what each will look like, but the announcement alone was enough to set social media buzzing, since the original bucket became as talked-about as the film it promoted.
For the uninitiated, the collectible is a molded vessel modeled on the giant sandworms of Arrakis, with an opening at the top where the creature's mouth would be and a lid that resembles rows of jagged teeth. When the bucket debuted in early 2024, images of it spread rapidly online, drawing a mixture of amusement, bewilderment and mock horror from moviegoers. Many joked about the awkwardness of reaching into the creature's maw for popcorn, and the design became a fixture of late-night monologues and meme feeds. AMC leaned into the attention rather than retreating from it, and the bucket went on to sell out at numerous locations.
Reviving the concept for the third installment is a natural commercial move for the exhibitor, which has increasingly leaned on premium novelty items to draw audiences into theaters. Limited-edition vessels tied to major franchise releases have become a reliable revenue stream for chains in recent years, and few pieces of merchandise have generated the volume of free publicity that the "Dune" sandworm did. By bringing it back with fresh designs, AMC appears to be betting that the novelty has not worn off - and that collectors who missed the first version will turn out for another.
The film itself arrives with substantial expectations. "Dune: Part Three" is directed once again by Denis Villeneuve and is set for release on December 15, 2026, running 150 minutes. It is a science fiction and adventure epic carried over from the prior chapters, with Timothée Chalamet returning as Paul Atreides, Zendaya as Chani, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, Charlotte Rampling as Reverend Mother Mohiam and Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia Atreides. Jason Momoa appears as Hayt, and Isaach de Bankolé joins the cast as Farok.
The story picks up nearly twenty years after Paul seized control of the Imperium. He now rules as a ruthless Emperor and must reckon with the consequences of his reign as former allies return, new and terrifying threats emerge, and betrayal waits in every shadow. Haunted by visions of Imperial collapse and by the reappearance of his long-lost love, Paul is pulled into a sweeping conspiracy whose unfolding mystery centers on Chani. As enemies close in, he is forced to confront the true cost of power and the fate of those he holds most dear.
Whether the new buckets will match the viral impact of the original remains to be seen. AMC has not said when the designs will be unveiled or when they will go on sale, and the chain has yet to confirm pricing or whether the items will be available nationwide or at select locations. Given the way the first sandworm bucket dominated conversation around "Part Two," though, anticipation is already building. Moviegoers who once recoiled at the thought of plunging a hand into a worm's mouth now appear eager to do it all over again.
For AMC, the timing is strategic. The December release places "Part Three" squarely in the holiday corridor, when families and gift-buyers are most receptive to novelty merchandise. A refreshed line of sandworm buckets could serve both as a promotional engine and as a stocking stuffer, and the chain has shown it knows how to turn a strange design into a cultural talking point. The question now is whether the new variants can capture the same lightning - or whether audiences will decide the joke has run its course.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
