Director Denis Villeneuve shares which Dune scene assured him that he had cast the right actor to portray Paul Atreide and left him dancing with joy. Based on Frank Herbert’s genre-defining 1965 novel, Villeneuve’s film follows Timothée Chalamet’s aforementioned protagonist as he is forced to fight for survival on the desert planet Arrakis. Dune has been met with critical praise so far, and audiences across the US, UK, and China will get to judge the adaptation for themselves when the film releases in more markets later this week.
Chalamet has become a household name since winning over audiences with his performances in Call Me by Your Name, The King, and Little Women. The young actor features in a star-studded Dune cast, which includes actors such as Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Momoa, Zendaya, and Dave Bautista. The ensemble's performances have been one of the film's most praised elements, alongside the cinematography, visual effects, and sound design.
Now, Villeneuve reveals the pressure he felt when casting Paul, as well as the subsequent relief of realising that Chalamet was the right fit for the role. Speaking to The AV Club alongside his star, the Dune director recounts having that joyful realisation when shooting the “Gom Jabbar scene” right at the beginning of the movie’s filming. The moment is critical for the character, and once he knew Chalamet was going to nail it, he couldn't help but celebrate. Read Villeneuve's full quote below:
I will tell you the truth: There’s a scene that we shot right at the beginning of the shoot, called the Gom Jabbar scene, where we go through a strange, unconscious, transformative process. And that transformation—when we did the scene—I saw this transformation in Timothée. When I saw that power rising into what he brought to the character, I saw with my own eyes Paul Atreides becoming something else. And, when that happened, Timothée didn’t see me, but I was dancing behind the camera. I was like, “Oh, my god, he was so great. He is so powerful. I’m so deeply happy. Thank you, gods of cinema. I didn’t f**k it up; I cast the right Paul Atreides!”
Villeneuve’s description of relief is best understood in the wider context of Dune's cinematic history, which has not been kind to some talented directors. David Lynch’s 1984 adaption of Herbert's novel bombed with audiences and critics alike, with the film’s casting being one of many criticised elements. Lynch’s failure was preceded by Alejandro Jorodowsky’s attempt in the decade prior, which was ultimately abandoned during development. Jorodowsky’s Dune has since become infamous for its proposed psychedelic style, changes to the original story, and bizarre casting choices.
Up until now, Dune adaptations have been far from successful, so Villeneuve dancing with joy upon seeing Chalamet’s impressive performance is understandable. His film only tells the first half of Paul’s story, but whether audiences get to see the second half is far from certain. While Villeneuve’s films have been celebrated by critics throughout his career, they haven’t always been commercial hits, and the greenlighting of a sequel depends on the performance of Dune: Part One, both in terms of box office and streaming numbers on HBO Max. While the future of Dune remains uncertain, audiences will certainly be hoping they haven't seen the last of Chalamet’s Paul.
Source: The AV Club
