‘Dune 2’ Director Denis Villeneuve Says Epic Sandworm-Riding Scene Took ‘Sometimes a Week for One Shot’ and Required a Separate Unit: ‘If I Had Done It Myself, I Would Still Be Shooting’

As I reflect upon the illustrious career of Denis Villeneuve, a filmmaker who effortlessly blends grandeur and grit, I find myself utterly captivated by his unwavering dedication to his craft. The sandworm-riding scene in “Dune: Part Two” is a testament to this commitment, where the director’s vision transcended the boundaries of practicality and patience.

As a film enthusiast, I found myself reminiscing about some of my cherished scenes from my own movies during a comprehensive conversation at the BFI London Film Festival last weekend. The event, known as Screen Talk, was an opportunity to delve into my professional journey.

During an amusing chat with actor Brett Goldstein from “Ted Lasso,” director Denis Villeneuve delved into the intricacies of filming the sandworm-riding scene for “Dune: Part Two.” Villeneuve has earlier mentioned that this sequence took a staggering 44 days to capture, and involved a specialized team dubbed as the “worm unit.

Villeneuve stated that he found out he didn’t want to make any concessions in his approach. He emphasized that the key aspect in visual effects is how they are filmed, and he wanted to film them using natural light. This method, however, required months of shooting due to each shot’s complexity. Some shots took half a day, others a full day, and some even a week because of their intricacy. If he had been the one doing it, he would still be filming.

In the leadership of the worm unit, Tanya Lapointe stood out. According to Villeneuve, she fully grasped his vision, and he noted, “She’s not only my team leader, but also my wife.

In transforming Frank Herbert’s cherished novel for the big screen, Villeneuve emphasized that the fundamental theme was centered around “women.

He remarked that the Bene Gesserit sisters held the deepest significance, intrigue, and relevance for him. He pointed out that adapting is akin to killing, in essence, it’s a form of creative destruction or brutal artistic expression.

The sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two,” featuring Timothée Chalamet as lead character Paul Atreides, was released in March to widespread acclaim and grossed an impressive $714 million globally at the box office. In the following month of April, it was officially announced that a third “Dune” movie is underway, drawing from Frank Herbert’s “Dune Messiah,” which unfolds 12 years after the storyline of his initial novel.

However, it’s important to note that “Dune” wasn’t Denis Villeneuve’s initial exploration into the realm of science fiction. In fact, in 2017, he directed the sequel to Ridley Scott’s 1982 classic, titled “Blade Runner 2049.” This film remains one of Villeneuve’s most daring career moves according to his conversation with Goldstein.

2024-10-12 15:46

‘Dune 2’ Director Denis Villeneuve Says Epic Sandworm-Riding Scene Took ‘Sometimes a Week for One Shot’ and Required a Separate Unit: ‘If I Had Done It Myself, I Would Still Be Shooting’

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