The science fiction epic starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya and Oscar Isaacs is set to release simultaneously on October 22 in theaters and on HBO Max.
Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Frank Herbert's "Dune" was always viewed as two films. But whatever the sequel is, of course, it's already been a "dream" for the Canadian director and his star, Timothée Chalamet.
"Simply put, it was the honor of a lifetime for me," Chalamet said Friday at the Venice Film Festival. "I hope we get to do another job. It will be a dream... (but) it's already a dream come true."
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Chalamet, Villeneuve, Zendaya, Oscar Isaacs, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem all gathered on the Lido Friday night to discuss the film in a press conference ahead of its world premiere. The competition is not debuting as part of the slate but it is one of the most awaited films of the year after a long delay in release due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Based on Herbert's 1965 science fiction classic, "Doon" is a heroic tale of a rising duke, a space power struggle, a precious spice and deadly space insects and has both inspired and bested some of the best filmmakers ever. Chalamet plays the young protagonist, Paul Atreides, who is being drafted to take the lead when his family learns that they have to rule and protect the hostile desert planet Arrakis, home of the universe's most valuable resource.
While it is a story that has inspired many creative minds, it is also the one that bested them. Alejandro Jodorowski tried to adapt it in the 1970s, but after years of development and a script that would have resulted in a 14-hour film, money ran out and the rights eventually ran out. The almost-film also became the subject of a 2013 documentary, "Jodorowski's Dune". Ridley Scott spent seven months in development on the second version before dropping out and creating "Blade Runner" instead. Then David Lynch stepped in. His film, starring Kyle MacLachlan and released in 1984, bombed at the box office, and did not impress critics.
But Villeneuve, the director behind ambitious and mesmerizing space epics like “Arrival” and “Blade Runner 2049,” didn’t get distracted by the debris that came before. Villeneuve had his own vision that he had been dreaming of since he first discovered the book as a teenager.
The cast of ‘Dune’ during the 78th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice | Photo Credit: JOEL C RYAN
And with the backing of Legendary and Warner Bros., a reported $165 million at their disposal, the promise of a sequel and an extra year to complete it as a result of the COVID delay, Villeneuve created his "dune." And now he is ready to bring the rest of the world under its ambit.
The biggest challenge, he joked, was "dealing and mastering" Chalamet's hair "because it's alive." In reality, the hardest part was finding the balance between making a movie for "Dune" fans, who he and composer Hans Zimmer are, and who know nothing about it.
The story, which deals with religion, politics, myth, fate, heritage, environmental decay and colonialism, Villeneuve said, has only become more relevant.
"When Frank Herbert wrote Dune in the '60s, it was doing like a 20th century portrait, but it became more and more predictable of what would happen in the 21st century," he said. "Sadly, the book is far more relevant today... I wish it wasn't, but I think this film will speak to the world more now than it did 40 years ago."
For the actors, it was more than a science fiction spectacle: it was a mesmerizing and emotional experience. Isaac, who plays Paul's father, was often contemplating the weight of playing a character who is deliberately leading to his demise. As Lady Jessica, Paul's mother, Ferguson takes pleasure in the tension between the mother and being a devotee of her ancient religion.
Chalamet said that he relied on everyone in the cast at some point for emotional support, and that one of the most meaningful bonds was between the director and the star.
"We had a strong communication and a perfect relationship," Chalamet said, switching to French for a while.
"I had faith and trust in Timothy from the very beginning of the shoot," Villeneuve said in French, too. "Upon getting the chance to work with Charlotte Rampling, he was initially intimidated, but everything went perfectly ... I understood his power there as an actor ... I used to interpret the character. I cried for her ability. I am sure I was not wrong in choosing her."
Zendaya has a small role in the film in terms of screen time and days on set, but her character will become more central when there is a sequel.
"It was intimidating and scary, but as soon as I got there, there was so much warmth and a hug," she said. "I was only there for a few days, but very quickly felt like part of a family [and] grateful to be a piece of this truly grand puzzle that is Dune."
"Dune" is set to release in theaters on October 22 and on HBO Max, like all Warner Bros. films in 2021, though Villeneuve expects audiences to seek the theatrical experience, if it's safe to do so.
"It's dreamed, it's designed, it's shot with IMAX thinking," Villeneuve said. "It's a physical experience. We tried to design a film that was as immersive as possible. For me the big screen is part of the language."
Whether viewers will get on board remains to be seen, but Brolin said the 40-something "Dune" superfan has already cast a vote of confidence.
When the credits began at a screening, there was a brief silence, Brolin said, then, "he started screaming at the top of his lungs and said 'That's what I saw, that's what I saw as a kid!
