Why Nicole Kidman Isn't in 'Dune' — Even Though She Wanted to Be

Nicole Kidman calls herself a "Dunie." She's watched every film in Denis Villeneuve's trilogy and clearly wishes she were part of it. So why isn't she?

Nicole Kidman has watched every "Dune" movie so far. She just hasn't been in one.

In a conversation with her “Practical Magic 2” costar Sandra Bullock for Vogue’s “Off the Cuff,” the actress revealed why she never got cast for a role in Denis Villeneuve’s trilogy even though she’s a fan of the franchise.

Nicole Kidman at the Los Angeles premiere of "Practical Magic 2" on August 31, 2026 | Source: Getty Images

Admitting she’s “obsessed with Dune,” Kidman also said, “I’d love to be in the Dune sequel. I’m a Dunie.” But when Bullock asked why she isn’t in it, the A-list star revealed, “Because ‘Dune’ never asked me to be in anything. It’s devastating.”

Then she went on to reverse course and said, "I actually don't want to be in it, because I just want to be able to watch them.” Bullock, who mouthed the words “Call her” to the camera, as if addressing Villeneuve directly, said, “You wouldn’t like the sand.” But Kidman disagreed. “I like the sand,” she countered.

The third and final installment of the “Dune” trilogy is set to be released in theaters on December 18. Meanwhile, the HBO prequel series "Dune: Prophecy" is already filming its second season, with production underway across Hungary, Jordan and Spain.

Kidman may not be in any of those, but she has been busy these days. She and Bullock just recently reprised their roles as cursed sister witches Sally and Gillian Owens in "Practical Magic 2," set to hit theaters on September 10, 2026.

Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman at the European premiere of "Practical Magic 2" on August 26, 2026 in London | Source: Getty Images

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Stockard Chaning and Dianne Wiest are also returning as the sisters' eccentric aunts, joined by a fresh generation of witches — Maisie Williams and Joey King play Bullock's grown daughters, with Lee Pace and Solly McLeod rounding out the cast.