One Dune Scene Was the Most Horrifying Ordeal for Timothée Chalamet

While Dune: Part Two continues to enamor audience worldwide, Timothee Chalamet recalls a particular scene that he found the most horrifying when filming.

As the fantastical tale of religion and politics in Dune 2 grips the world, the behind-the-scenes stories continue to delight the audience. There is one particular scene that Timothee Chalamet described as the most horrifying ordeal for him during the filming.

This particular scene involved him riding on the iconic sandworms from the movie. The filming blended the use of CGI with practical effects, including sand that made it difficult for the young actor to breathe.

Added to the fine particles and hampering the shooting experience was the blistering heat in the deserts of Jordan, where the primary shooting took place.
Timothee Chalamet as Paul Atreides and Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen | Source: Dune: Part Two (2024)

Blending Realism With CGI

After the release of the first movie, director Denis Villeneuve spoke to lengths about the seamless blend of practical old-school effects with CGI to bring the world of Dune to life. Even veteran director Christopher Nolan applauded the marriage of computer graphics with practical photography.

During one of the particular scenes, when Paul Atredies (Timothee Chalamet) rides a sandworm, to make the scene more impactful sand is blasted directly at him which makes the shooting that much arduous.

The fine particles of sand could prove breathing issues on top of visibility concerns. Therefore extra caution needed to be observed during the shooting.
Zendaya as Chani | Source: Dune (2021)

Similar Sand Issues in Lynch’s Dune

The predecessor to Denis Villeneuve’s Dune was David Lynch’s directorial Dune (1984) which faced similar issues in production. Limited by the technology of its time, unlike Villeneuve, Lynch decided to shoot the movie using miniature set pieces. (Video)

To shoot the sand sequences, especially the sandworm sequence very fine sand was used. To achieve the sand drum effect mechanically devised equipment was placed underground over which the sand was poured.

The extremely fine sand did pose similar breathing issues, which is why heavy-duty protective suits were used by the crew during the shooting. Any lack of security could have potentially led to a fatal accident at any point during the shooting.

Emphasis On Hand-To-Hand Combat

Apart from the sand sequence, Chalamet also described his experience with his intense fight sequence with Austin Butler. Austin Butler portrays Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in the Villeneueve flick and he described his fight sequence as learning an intricate dance choreography.

Both actors filmed their fight sequence in Hungary after learning and practicing the choreography for months. In an interview, Austin Butler recalled the pressure he felt while acting in front of the industry’s giants and giving his all on the stage.
Sting as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen | Source: Dune (1984)

Comparisons Between 1984 And 2021 Version

With the worldwide appreciation that Dune is receiving, comparisons with Lynch’s Dune are bound to happen. While there are many aspects of Lynch’s Dune that can be criticized, the primary criticism remains the haphazard nature of combining both books into a single movie.

This decision not only convoluted the plot but raised many plot holes, while Villeneuve’s calculated approach to presenting the complex politics of the outworld served as the main strength of Dune 2021.

However, the trippy nature of Lynch’s Dune does complement the mysticism of Frank Herbet’s novel. In contrast, Vileneuve’s version presents the sheer scale of this franchise.