Jason Momoa just debuted a completely new look—and he’s got mixed feelings about it. In a recent Instagram video shared with his company Mananalu Water, the actor is seen shaving off his beard with a razor while standing outside. “Goddammit, I hate it,” he mutters, eyeing the mirror after the last pass. This marked the first time in six years that Momoa has removed his iconic facial hair.

Momoa’s Beard Gone for Dune 3

He didn’t do it without purpose. “This is the kickoff, ‘Dune 3,’” he said in the video, referencing the highly anticipated continuation of the franchise. Then, in a nod to director Denis Villeneuve, he added, “Only for you, Denis.” The clean-shaven look is a return to form for his character Duncan Idaho, the sword-wielding mentor to Paul Atreides, originally played in Dune (2021).

Hints About Duncan Idaho’s Return

Jason Momoa in the trailer for ‘Dune 3’.

During an interview on TODAY on March 31, Momoa confirmed his return to the role in Dune: Part Three. Though his character died in the original film and was absent from the 2024 sequel, fans of Frank Herbert’s six-part book series know Duncan Idaho doesn’t stay gone for long. The character is resurrected in clone form multiple times in the source material. When asked whether his return would follow that same storyline, Momoa stayed coy. “Well, I’m not sure if I’m going to get in trouble or not, but it’s the same thing like *Game of Thrones*, you know what I mean? If you didn’t read the books, it’s not my fault, right? Yeah, there’s going to be … I’m going to be coming back.”

Mixed Fan Reactions to the Clean Shave

The third installment of the Dune saga is slated for release in December 2026, but the buzz is already strong—especially over Momoa’s beardless appearance. Reactions to his new look flooded the comment section of his Instagram post. “Am I the only one who likes ‘no beard’ ??” one person wrote. Another chimed in, “Great you look so handsome omg Jason why do you hide your beautiful face.” Not everyone was a fan, however. One follower dropped a blunt “Put it back.” Another wrote, “I like you better with a beard, you look more mature and serious. But work is work. And if you have to shave for the shoot, that’s OK too. Without a beard, you look young and daring.”

This isn’t the first time Momoa has shaved for a cause. Back in 2019, he posted a YouTube video of himself doing the same, encouraging fans to switch from plastic to recyclable aluminum. “Let’s make a positive change for the health of our planet,” he urged in the clip. “Let’s clean up our oceans and our land. Join me on this journey. Let’s make a switch to INFINITELY RECYCLABLE aluminum. Water in cans, NOT plastic.”