Timothée Chalamet to star in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune

The indie star of Call Me By Your Name will take the lead role in Villeneuve’s take on Frank Herbert’s cult sci-fi novel

Article by Jamie Dunn | 17 Jul 2018

After his star-making turn in last year’s Call Me By Your Name, it was only a matter of time before Timothée Chalamet started being offered lead roles in big movies. It looks like the indie star's first top billing in a major production will be in Denis Villenueve’s attempt to bring Frank Herbert’s Dune to the screen.

The Hollywood Reporter have revealed that 22-year-old Chalamet is to play Paul Atreides, the young hero of Herbert’s epic novel, in Villenueve’s film. Kyle MacLachlan played the same role in David Lynch’s little-loved 1984 adaptation.

Perhaps best described as 'Game of Thrones in space', Herbert's novel concerns several planet-ruling families who are battling it out for supremacy of the galaxy. The trippy novel also features giant sand-dwelling worms and a substance called 'the spice' that gives humans advanced abilities.


Kyle MacLachlan in David Lynch's Dune

Dune will be Villeneuve’s third sci-fi film on the trot, following his moving alien invasion film Arrival and his stylish Blade Runner sequel Blade Runner 2049. The 50-year-old Quebecois director has previously said that he plans to film Herbert’s sprawling story in two parts. “My wish would have been to make both films at the same time, but it will be too expensive,” he told La Presse earlier this year. “We will do them one at a time.”

Alejandro Jodorowsky tried to make a ten-hour version of Dune in the 70s but failed, while Lynch’s 1984 attempt was a critical and commercial disaster. We wish Villeneuve the best of luck – he’ll need it.