“Is this a trailer release? It’s like a premiere,” Denis Villeneuve joked after introducing the stars of “Dune Part 3” to an AMC theater in Los Angeles packed with journalists, film critics, bloggers and creators on Monday after the Oscars.
Returning Dune stars Zendaya and Javier Bardem, as well as series debutant Anya Taylor-Joy (who also had a cameo in Part 2) and Robert Pattinson, joined director Villeneuve to preview the epic conclusion to his sci-fi trilogy.
Zendaya, who plays the Fremen warrior Chani, said she was “so excited” after confirming that she had already seen the footage that was about to hit the screen. “These movies have meant so much to me over the years. I was able to literally grow up watching them all through my 20s, so they hold a special place in my heart.”
Timothée Chalamet, who plays the series’ central character Paul Atreides, did not attend in person, but introduced the special event in a video message.
“This film would not exist without a great artist, Denis Villeneuve, a master of cinema,” Chalamet said in the recording. “Dennis always says, ‘Long live the movies,’ and I think he’s done just that with this third film – a true cinematic act. I’m not alone in thanking Dennis for his efforts in making the Dune films and now the Dune trilogy possible.”
After filming the first two parts in quick succession, Villeneuve planned to make one more completely different film before returning to Arrakis, but the response to the second film changed his mind.
“We screened this movie in Mexico, and there were 14,000 people outside the theater and 5,000 people inside the theater. It was a roller coaster around the world, and seeing that excitement made me want to see a third movie,” Villeneuve explained. “I felt a responsibility to finish the story.”
Inspired by Frank Herbert’s Dune: Messiah, Dune: Part 3 depicts what happens after warrior prince and Chosen One, Paul, defeats the Harkonnen family, becomes Emperor, accepts his role as savior of the Fremen, and begins a holy war. He also marries Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) in search of political power, leading to him being abandoned by Chani. This teaser gives us a glimpse not only into the civil war that plagues Paul, but also an explosive glimpse into the galactic conflict that ensues.
The clip begins with a happy moment where Paul and Chani discuss baby names. “If we have a baby girl, what should we name her?” Chani asks. “Her name should be Ghanima. She should be strong like her mother,” Paul replied, and asked, “What if it’s a boy?” Chani replied, “I will name him Leto so that I can receive the wisdom of my grandfather.”
Dune fans will immediately notice this bit of foreshadowing, but I won’t spoil it here. Instead, enjoy the gorgeous lens-flare footage of Zendaya walking along the dunes while Chani remains the “heartbeat” of Villeneuve’s story. This is “Dune”, not “Under the Tuscan Sun”.
Paul’s anxiety is featured prominently in the teaser. “War makes you grow,” he says in voiceover. “The more I fight, the more the enemy fights back. I’m doing my best to protect my family.” Here he turns to his mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), as his consul. “How did your father do it?” Paul asks. “Your father never started a war,” she replies.
The teaser provides glimpses of all the main characters, including Bardem’s Fremen leader Stilgar and Taylor-Joy’s Paul’s loyal sister Aria Atreides, as well as a first look at Pattinson, who plays the film’s antagonist, Scytail. (Audiences will have to wait to hear what Pattinson voices as the character, but his icy gaze and shocking blonde hair foreshadow a dynamic performance to come.)
The video ends with Paul getting his hair done and preparing for his next fight. “I’m not afraid of dying,” he declares. “But I can’t die yet.”
As part of the trailer release event, Villeneuve and the cast took part in a Q&A moderated by Reese Feldman, hinting at what audiences can expect from the film. To further raise those expectations. Warner Bros. also released character posters for the ensemble cast, which also features Jason Momoa (Haight) and Isaac de Bankole (Farrokh).
Here’s what we learned about Dune Part 3.
There’s a huge timeline jump.
“Dune: Part 3” takes place “many years” after the events of “Part 2,” 17 years to be exact.
Villeneuve revealed that the threequel has a different tone, rhythm and pace. “If the first film was a reflective film about a young boy exploring a new world, and the second film was a war movie, this one is more action-packed and tense,” he said.
“We are dealing with the effects of too much power, and we are looking for ways to break out of this cycle of violence,” Paul Atreides said. “As an emperor who can see into the future, he is invincible in a sense. But there are people who want to overthrow him.”
Despite its intensity, Paul and Chani’s love story is still the “heartbeat” of the film, Villeneuve added.
Part 3 is Villeneuve’s “most personal film” to date.
Villeneuve said that Herbert’s Dune Messiah was by far his favorite science fiction series, calling it “a very dark and beautiful book” and that adapting it into a film was close to his heart. why? “This is the story of Paul and Chani and their struggle in their relationship under the weight and incredible pressure of the world around them, and Paul trying to find a way out of this cycle of violence,” he explained. “There’s something about their love, and through time and who they are, their relationship evolves.”
What will the people of Arrakis do next?
Pugh sent a pre-recorded message asking Zendaya how Chani feels about Irulan now, touching on the last time Chani was running away from her.
“First of all, I want to say that I love Florence Pugh. She’s amazing in this role,” he said, explaining that they only had a brief moment together in the previous film, but had hoped to have more scenes with her. She was hesitant to give spoilers, but teased, “You’ll have to see for yourself what happens. It’s quite a journey.”
Bardem also explained his character Stilgar and what audiences can expect from him. “Through the years, it takes him to a place where he sees different realities of what it means to be in power, and he finds himself in the conflict between his loyalty to a cause he fought for and believed in at the time, and how that cause has become something he thinks and feels that it may not be for him,” Bardem continued. “The idea that he had a dream one day seems complicated.” This is a great analogy for the concept of power and having power, but Stilgar is in that contradiction. ”
Taylor-Joy explained that Aria has a strong blessing and curse. “There’s the weight and wisdom of generations in her head. She’s never having a singular conversation. It’s kind of all over the place at the same time. And one of the things she feels really strongly about is her love and devotion to her brother. Taylor-Joy explained that Paul was the only person who understood her even before she was born, and that she would do anything for him “to varying degrees of insanity.”
Pattinson was a huge fan of Villeneuve’s Dune movie before he had the chance to join the cast. “I absolutely love these movies and saw them in theaters so many times. I was talking to you on the set of The Drama,” he said, looking at Zendaya. “I was like, ‘How can I be in that Dune movie?'” A few months later, the call came completely unexpectedly. ”
“It’s a great achievement for the cast,” Pattinson continued. “Everyone wants to work with Dennis. He’s a master. And when you see the scope, scale and ambition of these films on set and elsewhere, you understand why it feels this way on screen. It’s just extraordinary.”
Regarding Scytale in particular, Pattinson said he was keen to play a fairly “unusual” character in the book. “You can’t really tell which side he’s on. That’s what makes him so interesting,” he said. He might be a good guy. who knows? I’ll understand when I see the movie too. It’s a really fun character to play and looks really great. ”
Duncan Idaho is back!
Yes, the Atreides warrior died an honorable death in the first film, but Momoa’s character will return in “Part 3.”
But now, Villeneuve teases, “He comes back at just the right time in the story, and it’s a very important comeback. Paul is struggling with his identity, and having such a strong Atreides figure coming back from the past will have a huge impact.”
How the Dune craftsmen brought Villeneuve’s vision to life.
As previously reported, composer Hans Zimmer returned to score the film. Costume designer Jacqueline West, production designer Patrice Vermette, and editor Joe Walker also return. Linus Sandgren is the new cinematographer for Part 3, replacing Greig Fraser, who shot the first two films (and won an Oscar for the first one).
Villeneuve teased that the world had changed in the 17 years that Paul ruled Arrakis. The desert climate itself has changed, but its effects will also occur in different regions of Arrakis and on entirely new planets. “I wanted to approach this problem with fresh eyes,” he says.
Although Sandgren shot most of the film on 65mm film, “we shot the majority of it on Imax film, which was a first for me,” Villeneuve said. “We preserved the desert digitally because we like brutality.” Filming with “epic” Imax cameras was unique. “Seeing the results on screen is completely unparalleled,” he added. “I hope I get a chance to do it again.”
As for how he wants audiences to see “Part 3,” Villeneuve said, “This film is an IMAX experience, and it’s meant to be seen on the biggest screen possible.”
So, what’s the current status of the movie? Dennis confirmed that the film is still “in the works” for its scheduled December 18th release. “It’s going well. The movie is alive,” he joked, explaining that the team is working “full speed ahead” in post-production. Editing has been completed, but finishing the VFX will take some time.
“Once this (event) is over, I’ll run back to the editing room,” Villeneuve said, offering a first taste of the film.
