Set to release in the United States this Friday, Warner Bros.’ “Dune” has sparked conversation throughout campus and the entertainment industry.
Warner Bros. hosted a virtual roundtable event for college journalists across the country on Oct. 17.
Student journalists from top campus papers got the chance to discuss their thoughts and questions on the film, which they were given access to prior to its release in the U.S.
Two of the film’s biggest stars — Timothée Chalamet, who plays the protagonist, Paul Atreides, and Zendaya, who portrays Chani — were present at the roundtable.
Denis Villeneuve, the film's director and producer, said in a press release that he discovered“Dune” – a 1965 science-fiction novel by Frank Herbert – as a teenager and quickly became fascinated with the story. Little did he know then that just a few decades later, he’d assemble and direct a cast of internationally renowned actors for a modern film adaptation of the text.
The roundtable discussion
Despite the unique emotional and environmentally challenging circumstances their characters face in the harsh desert of Arrakis, both Zendaya and Chalamet said they felt personally connected to their roles.
“I think the character we meet at the beginning of the movie, a young man struggling with his identity, is something that all of us struggle with,” Chalamet said. “(In him) I see, certainly when I was younger, that lack of identity and the struggle to find it. The journey Paul is on is much more significant than any journey I've ever been on, but the ability to grow — not only as a young man, but also to face his prophecy — was incredibly exciting as an actor.”
In an environment as physically taxing as Arrakis, Zendaya said her character was forced to grow up quickly. As a young actress, she said she resonates with this.
