British film magazine Empire unveiled a fresh batch of photos and covers from Dune: Part Three on Thursday, ahead of its December release. The images are full of the brooding, atmospheric intensity that has become the signature of director Denis Villeneuve, the filmmaker behind the Dune series, but one photo in particular has become the butt of the internet’s jokes.
The stills, released as part of the magazine’s December 2026 issue, confirm that the finale jumps 17 years ahead of Part Two.
Of course, we see Zendaya’s Chani back in her stillsuit in the Arrakis desert, a return to the world she once called home.
We also see Timothée Chalamet, who plays Paul Atreides, and Anya Taylor-Joy, who plays his psychic sister Alia, together — with the latter wearing a full white head and body covering.
Netizens couldn’t help but notice that Taylor-Joy’s outfit bears a striking resemblance to traditional Muslim women’s garb. Meanwhile, Chalamet’s shaved head and clothes reminded people of how some Muslim men dress after returning from Hajj.
One user on X joked, “Me and my wife after iftar waiting for her to finish namaz so we can have chai.”
This netizen is getting Pakistani director vibes.
So is this one.
Another remarked it looked like a “standard jummah photo in a Pakistani household”.
One said, “Mashallah Anya sister,” because it really does look like a form of a hijab.
The latest reaction is not the first time Taylor-Joy’s Dune wardrobe has sparked jokes online. In February 2024, her outfit for the Dune: Part Two premiere in London — a flowing white gown that covered her from head to toe — drew a very different kind of reaction.
Many Muslim fans pointed out that while the actor was being praised by the mainstream media for her unique look, the very same modest styles worn by Muslim women — hijabs, niqabs and burqas — are often met with suspicion or worse.
Some critics even argued the moment was a textbook case of appropriation: white celebrities being celebrated for wearing what women of colour and religious minorities are penalised for.
Some also pointed out that Frank Herbert’s original Dune novel was heavily influenced by Islamic history and culture, yet the films have largely removed those influences, while only keeping the visuals.
So while netizens are currently poking fun at Alia’s all-white look, the bigger conversation about the movies’ departure from the source material is far from new.
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