Timothée Chalamet teases sandworm-riding scene in Dune 2: "The stakes of that moment are huge"
Jan. 30, 2024Exclusive: Timothée Chalamet tells Total Film all about one of the sequel’s most important scenes
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Paul Atreides star Timothée Chalamet says his sandworm-riding scene in the upcomingDune 2was “an amazing experience”.
“Beyond being an exciting sequence in the movie, it represents a coming of age,” Chalamet tellsTotal Film in our new issue, which features Dune 2 on the cover and is out this Thursday. “It’s where Paul’s supposed prophecy would fall flat, and it would mean his death if he can’t rise to the occasion. So the stakes of that moment are huge, and the doing of it was thrilling. It was industrial fans blowing sand, and a slab of worm was built. It was an amazing experience.”
The outrageously dangerous ritual is a rite of passage among the Fremen, and a turning point in Paul’s journey. The sequel sees Paul face a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, as he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.
“When you read the book your brain is connecting the dots, but what’s the technique?” director Denis Villeneuve asks. “I needed to show the logic of how to ride a worm, and the danger. But, at the same time, Paul needs to be good! To create that fine balance is fun because, as a filmmaker, I never had the chance to show the birth of a hero.”
The sequel features returning cast members Dave Bautista as Glossu Rabban Harkonnen, Javier Bardem as Stilgar, and Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica. New additions to the cast include Léa Seydoux as Lady Margot and Christopher Walken as Padyszach Imperator Szaddam IV. Austin Butler plays the new big bad, Feyd-Rautha, who is the nephew and heir of Stellan Skarsgård’s Baron Harkonnen.
Dune 2 releases on March 1. You can read more about it, and a whole lot else besides, in the new issue of Total Film when it hits shelves and digital newsstands on Thursday, February 1. Inside, we haveexclusive new images from the film,insight from the cast on a potential Dune 3, andAustin Butler’s lowdown on his new villain. Check out the covers below:
Pre-order the issue hereto bag your copy, orclick here to subscribe to Total Filmand never miss another exclusive. You’ll get every issue before it’s in stores, and you’ll get subscriber-exclusive covers.
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I’m the Deputy Editor at Total Film magazine, overseeing the features section of every issue where you can read exclusive, in-depth interviews and see first-look images from the biggest films. I was previously the News Editor at sci-fi, fantasy and horror movie bible SFX. You’ll find my name on news, reviews, and features covering every type of movie, from the latest French arthouse release to the biggest Hollywood blockbuster. My work has also featured in Official PlayStation Magazine and Edge.
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