‘Dune’ Trailer: On Arrakis a Crusade is Coming

Today Twitter Movies held an exclusive chat with director Denis Villeneuve and the cast of DUNE followed by the premiere of the film’s trailer. It does not disappoint as audiences are given a visually stunning space saga that brings the novel to life.

We got some great behind the scenes looks, set designs artwork, and interviews as Stephen Colbert moderated the event with Timothee Chalamet, Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Sharon Duncan-Brewster and Villeneuve in attendance.

Here are some highlights from the discussion:

• Villeneuve like Colbert is a long time fan of the Dune series first reading it at fifteen and he finished the whole saga.
• The director felt that Chalamet had an old soul and lived many lives which really touched him and at the same time the actor looked so young on camera which was a contrast. This was Paul Atreides.
• According to Chalamet he only did two scenes with a green screen and everything else was practical.
• One condition Villeneueve had was that he had to shoot in a real desert, his argument being that they didn’t shoot Jaws in a swimming pool.
• Rebecca Ferguson gives Villeneuve’s a lot of credit for highlighting Lady Jessica’s actions as creating fractures and disrupting everything in the film.
• Oscar Isaac also jokes that no set piece, X-Wing, or Millennium Falcon could compare to the size of Josh Brolin’s head. It really made him feel like he was on an alien planet.
• Jason Momoa views Duncan Idaho as a samurai servant of House Atreides.
• Javier Bardem explains that Stilgar is really taken in by the message of the messiah, Paul.
• Josh Brolin depiction of Gurney is that he’s a musician and has played the baliset since he was seven! His character is the war master but also a parent of sorts to Paul.
• Bardem said that the stillsuits they had though were built amazingly well and even had cool air flowing inside, though Isaac and Momoa said they both missed out on that version.
• In a battle, Momoa answers that Duncan Idaho would beat Khal Drogo because Idaho has an edge with his swords.
• Sharon Duncan-Brewster said that Villeneuve really wanted to focus on the essence of Liet Kynes, as her character in the book is male and was gender-swapped for the film. Kynes connects multiple groups in the story, understands the different worlds of the Fremen and the imperium and is able to navigate through. What’s really important is what Kynes stands for.
• Zendaya notes that Chani isn’t quite feeling Paul at the beginning but does see something in him.
• Chani and Paul both go through a coming of age story that young people may relate to especially set in a broken world.
• Dune is about the capacity for adaptation and with a lot of change coming Villeneuve feels that the film is more relevant than ever.

With a runtime of 3:04, the trailer gives us an exquisite peek into the world of DUNE. Here are some of my favorite moments:

• Gom jabbar!! Charlotte Rampling was exquisite in this scene as Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohaim.
• The Reverend Mother’s voiceover that Duke Leto will loose both Caladan and Arrakis.
• Seeing Rabban and the Baron even for a few seconds, already you can feel the menace.
• The gorgeous shots of Arrakis as House Atreides lands on Dune for the first time.
• The Sardukar and Duncan’s battle!
• The lighting, soundtrack, and overall tone. Perfection.
• Shai-Hulud coming out of the sand gave me chills.

DUNE is set to be released on December 18, 2020.