Dune, the Story for this Generation
Written by: Danielle Jarrell
Earlier this month, I was given the opportunity through a Warner Brothers Ambassador to attend an early screening of Dune. The invitation also included a virtual roundtable spot with the stars from the movie, Timothee Chalamet as Paul and Zendaya as Chani. Being a fan of past films directed by Denis VilleneuveI, such as Blade Runner 2049 and Prisoners, I accepted the invitation. Before I knew it, I was sitting alongside other movie critics and reporters. For the two hours and thirty five minute running time, the entirety of auditorium 1 at the Narberth Theatre was captivated by the film’s action filled plot and authentic portrayal of human emotions and interactions. Originally set to be released in November of 2020, but due to the pandemic having to be pushed back until this October, Dune is a must watch film that will leave you wanting more.
“In a very dramatic way this is a coming of age story. Whether it be a bigger metaphor for something that we all experience, which is what it is like to grow up and feel all these pressures and ideas of these things that you should be or might have to be for other people and what that feels like to fit in those shoes.”- Zendaya
Dune, directed by Denis Villeneuve, invites its audience on a science fiction mission to an otherworldly time. One young man, Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet), and his powerful family obtain control over both Planets Caladan and Arrakis. With Planet Arrakis withholding the rarest product being Spice, an attack on the planet takes place leaving Paul destined to save his loved ones, the people of Arrakis, and himself.
Starring in Villeneuve’s adaptation of Dune are Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya, along with other famous Hollywood stars such as Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Momoa, and Oscar Isaac.
On October 17th 2021, the leads of this long awaited remake, Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya, accompanied college radio hosts, reporters, and writers spread across the country to a roundtable event taking place over Zoom. Chalamet, who plays the character of Paul, opened the interview saying, “Getting the chance to work with Denis Villeneuve, the director, and these incredible actors and actresses you know, these are some of the most talented and strongest actors working right now so a total dream come true, something I would do again in a heartbeat.” Zendaya, who plays the role of Chani, added “this felt like a no brainer. You have such a dream team of people that you could possibly be able to work with and I was like, I’ll do whatever, let’s figure this out, so I’m very grateful to be a part of this.”
Being the second adaptation of this film and after being forced to stop and then restart filming due to Covid-19, many fans of the original adaptation released in 1984 and novels published in 1965 were left with high hopes. This is also Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya’s most awaited film of the year and being stars on the rise many fans of their own have high hopes in their acting and storytelling of the lead roles. Zendaya reflected on Dennis Villeneuve’s previous work she has admiration for and mentioned, “attempting to take on something like this, I mean I can imagine the weight of what that feels like, what’s so important is having that right director, that person who connects with the material in a different way and the fact that Denny has such a connection to this, being he read this [novel] as a young person and was able to grow with it and up with it quite literally that is a greater emotional connection to the piece that he is creating and I do not think there is anyone better for the job.”
When vaccines became available and guidelines were lifted by the CDC Villeneuve took his cast and crew from their indoor quarantining to the deserts of Jordan, Abu Dhabi, and Norway to continue filming. Chalamet inquired at the roundtable, “the great privilege to not have to work on green screens all the time so I was in a constant state of being awestruck from the rock formations.” Zendaya inquired herself that “it was a very immersive experience, I landed there and they had already been going [filming] and I got to meet everybody already in costume which was really cool I was like yo, I’ve already arrived in Arrakis, this is crazy. It was stunning, the first thing I did was us [Chalamet and herself] walking on that mountain thing and that was a special moment; I have never seen a view like that and I feel grateful to have a job where I can see things like that. It makes you feel small in the best kind of way.”
The relationship between the characters of Paul and Chani and how they will play out if given the opportunity in a possible part 2 is already raising questions. Being the first film Chalamet and Zendaya have done together, the initial meeting between the stars in Zendaya’s opinion, “felt very effortless, it wasn’t like I had to go pretend to be friends with this person. It happened very naturally and I don’t think we became friends because we knew or hoped that we were going to do another one. It was just this is someone I really appreciate and is valuable in my life.”
Chalamet went onto saying and concluded the roundtable with, “We’re all the same generation, this book didn’t come out when we were growing up and yet it still remains relevant about fighting for what’s right socially, fighting for what’s right environmentally, standing up for groups that are easily oppressed or don’t have the agency to fight back. The movie is about many things and there’s many qualities to it, but if young people can relate to what Chani or Paul are going through at the center of it and can also intake themes that are sometimes flying over my head then we really succeeded.”
Coming to theaters October 22nd 2021 and available to stream on HBO Max October 21, 2021.
