‘Dune’ First Look: Timothée Chalamet Makes Lead Blockbuster Debut in Villeneuve Epic
By: Zack Sharf
BUZZ NOTE: There is a somewhat boring video of the costume designer explaining her contribution to the film that I cannot download but if you're interested you can click the "SEEDED CONTENT" link just below this notice, which will take you to the original article.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
‘Dune’ First Look: Timothée Chalamet Makes Lead Blockbuster Debut in Villeneuve Epic
Villeneuve says his adaptation of Frank Herbert's iconic science-fiction novel was "made for the big screen."
“Dune” Warner Bros.
The first official look at Denis Villeneuve ’s science-fiction tentpole “ Dune ” has arrived, courtesy of Vanity Fair . The first photo released from the movie depicts Timothée Chalamet as protagonist Paul Atreides. The character is seen walking on his native planet of Caladan while spaceships begin transporting his family to their new home, Arrakis. Paul’s family has inherited ownership of Arrakis, a desert planet that is home to the world’s most valuable resource, a superhuman drug called “spice.” As the owners of Arrakis, the Atreides become the enemy of rival royal families and the planet’s indiginious population, a group of natives known as the Fremen.
“The immediately appealing thing about Paul was the fact that in a story of such detail and scale and world-building, the protagonist is on an anti-hero’s-journey of sorts,” Chalamet said to Vanity Fair about signing on to “Dune,” which marks the young actor’s first time leading a giant studio tentpole. “He thinks he’s going to be sort of a young general studying his father and his leadership of a fighting force before he comes of age, hopefully a decade later, or something like that.”
Starring opposite Chalamet is an impressive ensemble cast that includes Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Zendaya, Stellan Skarsgard, and Dave Bautista, among others.
One of Villeneuve’s key collaborators on the project was cinematographer Greig Fraser, Oscar nominated for his work on “Lion.” Fraser’s other credits include “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” The cinematographer is known for his grounded, handheld camera style, which led many to believe “Dune” would have a more realistic tone than Villeneuve’s last sci-fi spectacle “Blade Runner 2049.” Fans should expect the cold, grey tones of Caladan to contrast sharply with the desert atmosphere of Arrakis.
“’Dune’ was made by people from all over the world,” Villeneuve said to Vanity Fair . “Many of these people are like family to me, and they’re very much in my thoughts. I’m so proud to showcase their hard work. I look forward to a time when we can all get together again as ‘Dune’ was made to be seen on the big screen.”
Warner Bros. is scheduled to release “Dune” in theaters on December 18, a date that is remaining unchanged for now. Get the first full look at Chalamet in the leading role in the photo below.
"Dune" Warner Bros.
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From the original articles about this remake of my favourite Sci-Fi novel being produced I was so looking forward to watching it, but now seeing a cast of actors I've never heard of I'm not entirely sure of whether the remake will be as good as the David Lynch original. However, I'm sure to find a way to watch it when it comes out, even if I have to beg someone to send me a DVD of it.
This is what, the third or fourth film iteration of Frank Herbert's "Dune"?
The third. The first one was the original David Finch one, and the second was a TV version.
I remember Sir Patrick Stewart as Gurney Halleck in the first film.
I enjoyed the TV version more than I expected to.
Someone gave this to me a few years ago on DVD. It wasn't too bad.
Produced by the great Italian producer Dino DeLaurentis and his daughter Rafaella, known for huge extravagant productions and budgets. A lot was lost in translation from the book to the film. I enjoyed the book a lot more. The following books semed to turn into a literary soap opera though. I read the first two and then lost interest.
Ditto,
and the first film was so bad, it killed future book sales.
I think I have the trilogy in paperback in the garage somewhere...
I'm sure it is all in the expectation. I watched, expecting crap, but was pleasantly surprised. I had great expectations for The Force Awakens, and left the theater wanting my time and money back. Fell asleep during The Last Jedi, and have yet to see Rise of Skywalker.
As an aside, I looked up the TV series. Damn I'm getting old. I didn't realize it had been twenty years. Feels more like 10.
I've read all the Dune books and seen the film.
I hope they do a better job with this version
David Finch, the Director, was so unhappy with the first one he virtually disassociated himself from it. The follow up films of the novels were Children of Dune and Dune Messiah.
I liked the 1984 film. Before it came out I thought the book would be very difficult to make into a film.
That was a fairly general opinion. Even the Director, David Finch, was unhappy with his film. I thought that this new reboot would be divided into 2 or 3 films in order to capture the intricasies of the novel.
I agree. Far too much content for one movie.
I'd like to see a good series on an epic scale or several movies, not just one
About the same as trying to adapt Tolkien's "The Simarillion" into a single movie. As you said, far too much content. The book covers close to a thousand plus years of the history of Middle Earth.
I don't think I read that one. Did read Hobbit and the trilogy as a kid. I was surprised Jackson brought it to the screen as well as he did.
Also read, of course, Ender's Game. I only read one of the others books in the series. Dave from NV use to talk about some of the books.
My brother read Dune as a kid so it was around the house. I just never got into it.
Might have to watch the movie and give it a chance. I think it is easier for them to make these kind of movies with digital enhancement.
Glad to know I am not the only person who actually read that, ( or owns it ).
There's some great actors there, Dave Bautista is a new favorite of mine
I like the kid. He is a good actor. I think he has a long career ahead.
I know very little about the more current actors - maybe I've been too preferential about the classic ones.
I'm excited to see what they do with this one.
I read Dune many many years ago and it was one of my favorite sci fi fantasy novels. I didnt think as much of the sequels.
Dune is for a niche audience of hard core sci-fi fantasy fans. The story is kind of complicated and introduces a lot of terms that are unique to Dune and will mean very little to people not familiar with the novels.
The first movie was a good try, but not a hit and left a lot of people cold and bewildered.
I think Dune is kind of unfilmable.
But they used to say that about Tolkein too until Peter Jackson came along.
A very knowledgeable comment. The sequels written by Frank Herbert were not so bad, but the ones written by his son, not as good.
I want to see this
I hate to say this but I never got into this one. Never watched the movie all the way through.
Not a popular opinion but I always thought it was boring.
I like the first book when I read it, but I never finished the other books. It's been a very long time, perhaps I should pick them up and try again.
The third book was really out there.
Chacun a son gout.
Happy to see there are many who know Frank Herbert's Dune. Over the years I have posted a number of articles about Dune on NT.
Seven years ago on Science Fiction Fanatics:
Is "Dune" Done?
Seven months ago on Science Fiction Fanatics:
Denis Villeneuve's Dune Movie Could Be a Sci-Fi Masterpiece a Generation in the Making
I had also posted one a few years ago that I can no longer locate. It was about the fact that the Dune novel would be adapted to a movie again. I believe this is the article I posted.
Dune Reboot: Arrival Filmmaker Denis Villeneuve in Talks to Direct
I can recall that this was the lead picture to that article:
I wasn't around Newstalkers then.
H.R. Giger, one of my favorite artists, was involved in one version of Dune that never took off. Designing sets, etc.
Are you a big Sci Fi fan Buzz or is it just devoted to Frank Herbert's Dune?
I am a humongous Sci Fi fan/geek/nerd and proud of it!
Hey Tessylo. When I was about 10 years old (in the late 1940s) my brother, who is 4 1/2 years older than me, was a big Sci-Fi fan, and he used to buy all the Sci-Fi pulp magazines (e.g. Amazing Stories, Astounding Science Fiction, Galaxy Magazine, etc.) and I would read in them stories written by the classic Sci-Fi authors Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, Edward E. (Doc) Smith, Arthur C. Clark, etc. For me space cowboy stories were my favourites back then, especially the Skylark series and the Lens series written by Doc Smith. But once I discoverd Frank Herbert's Dune, I was hooked - I've read every one of the Dune books written by both father and son (liked the father's novels better). As well, I've watched Sci-Fi movies all my movie-watching life and most TV series.
I think I joined Nigel Dogberry's Science Fiction Fanatics NT group more than 5 years ago, and have posted at least 13 articles on it myself.
So yes, I am a BIG Sci-Fi fan, and I'm happy we have that in common.
One of my all time favorite Heinlein books was Time Enough For Love. Also a huge Andre Norton fan, especially her Witch World series.
I always loved Ray Bradbury since I was a kid. I had a paperback of a collection of ghost/horror stories by him with illustrations by him.
I was about 9 or 10 when I tried reading "Martian Chronicles" but it was beyond my comprehension. Later in life I read it and really enjoyed it. I've read many of his books, he was the best.
Bradbury was definitely at least ONE of the very best SF authors.
You're way cooler than I ever gave you credit for Buzz.
Thanks for sharing.
I'm a fan of Asimov and Philip H. Dick.
Peace
Farenheit 451 was also one of Bradbury's greatest novels.
Right - it made a great movie adaptation as well. One of Oscar Werner's best roles.
Same here. I have each of Asimov's books in the Elijah Bailry/R. Daneel Oliva Caves as well as others. Have you read any of Arthur C. Clarke's books?
Have you read Elizabeth Moon's Paksenarion series or David Weber's Honor Harrington series? As a Sci Fi fan going back to the early 60's I highly recommend them.
Hadn't heard of them but I will check them out.
Thanks for the tip
My pleasure. Paksenarion series starts with the title Sheepfarmer's Daughter. I have every book in the series. They are also available on Kindle online.
Write it down, something that Tessylo and Charger like
Tessylo and I also have also agreed in the past as long as it does not involve politics..