Denis Villeneuve Chose Real Desert Over Studio for Authentic ‘Dune’ Filming

Despite being given the choice to shoot in a Hollywood studio, Denis Villeneuve has disclosed that he insisted on shooting the ‘Dune’ films in an actual desert.

The 2021 movie and its 2024 follow-up, which are adaptations of Frank Herbert’s 1965 science fiction book, were both directed by the same person. With an ensemble cast that includes Josh Brolin, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, and Timothée Chalamet, the films have made over $1 billion worldwide. In order to recreate the enormous, untamed nature of the fictitious planet Arrakis, Villeneuve, who was influenced by David Lean’s 1962 epic ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, decided not to employ a studio and instead used the real Wadi Rum desert in Jordan and the Liwa Oasis in Abu Dhabi.

Image Courtesy: The Hollywood Reporter

A number of Oscar nominations have been made for ‘Dune: Part Two’, including Best Picture, where it faces off against movies including ‘Wicked’, ‘The Brutalist’, and ‘Anora’. Best Visual Effects, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, and Best Cinematography are among the other nominations.

Villeneuve has stated that he will be back for the adaptation of Herbert’s ‘Dune Messiah, Dune: Part Three’. “It would feel excessive to continue beyond this instalment, so it will be my last in the series,” he said. The third movie will be released before Villeneuve starts work on his next project, an adaptation of Annie Jacobsen’s 2024 Pulitzer Prize-nominated novel ‘Nuclear War: A Scenario’, though Legendary has not disclosed a production schedule.

Image Courtesy: Animated Times 

NME gave the sequel a stellar four-star review, praising its immersive experience and giving tribute to production designer Patrice Vermette’s creative settings, sound design, and cinematographer Greig Fraser’s breathtaking images. The thrilling scene in which Paul rides a gigantic sandworm, which was hinted at in the first film, is one of the film’s highlights.

In a Q&A with Villeneuve, Christopher Nolan also lauded ‘Dune: Part Two’, calling it “miraculous.”

–Farheen Ali 

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