Oscar-nominee Timothee Chalamet is in talks to play the lead in the upcomingDuneremake. Director Denis Villeneuve has been at the top of many studio’s lists for a big project in the wake of successes likeArrivalandSicario. Even though he was eyed to take onJames Bond 25prior to Danny Boyle coming on board, Villeneuve instead opted to tackle a new adaptation of Frank Herbert’sDune. Now, it looks like we know who is going to be the hero at the center of the story.
It’s being reported thatTimothée Chalamet, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his work in last year’sCall Me by Your Nameand also starred in Greta Gerwig’sLady Bird, is being eyed forDune. If his deal closes, Chalamet will play Paul Atreides, a young nobleman from the novel, previously played by Kyle MacLachlan in David Lynch’s movie adaptation. This new adaptation is being produced by Legendary Pictures, who secured the rights in late 2016.
There are those who enjoy David Lynch’sDunemovie quite a bit, and there’s the famous Alejandro Jodorowsky version that never actually came to fruition. But with the technology available in today’s filmmaking landscape and a director like Denis Villeneuve, who most recently tackledBlade Runner 2049, this could be a truly, fully realized version ofFrank Herbert’s classic sci-fi novel. Here’s a synopsis of Herbert’s 1965 Hugo Award-winning book.
“Set in the far future amidst a sprawlingfeudal interstellar empirewhere planetary dynasties are controlled by noble houses that owe an allegiance to the imperial House Corrino, Dune tells the story of young Paul Atreides (the heir apparent to Duke Leto Atreides and heir of House Atreides) as he and his family accept control of the desert planet Arrakis, the only source of the ‘spice’ melange, the most important and valuable substance in the cosmos.”
That gives thoseunfamiliar with the source materiala better idea of what Timothee Chalamet will be up to inDune. This would not only make a major get for the production, as he’s one of the most promising young actors working right now, but it could also be a major step up for Chalamet. He’s never headlined a movie this big before and this could give him a chance to prove that he can carry a major blockbuster, as well as something likeBeautiful Boy, which arrives later this year and could see the young actor once again in the Oscar discussion.
In April of last year,Forest Gumpwriter Eric Roth was brought on board to pen theDuneremake. Denis Villeneuve has said that his take will be likeStar Warsfor adults and that he is aiming for at least two movies, if not more. Legendary has not yet set a release date but we’ll be sure to keep you up to date as more details on the project are made available. This news comes to us courtesy ofThe Hollywood Reporter.
