Timothée Chalamet describes the feeling of taking on the biggest role of his career to date in Dune as a ‘total f**king dream come true’, in part due – enjoyably specifically – to ‘the Hans Zimmer thing’.
Chalamet plays lead character Paul Atreides in Dune, a young man struggling with his powers and destiny in a hostile inter-planetary future, and heads a cast including Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Oscar Isaac, Javier Bardem and Dave Bautista in Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic 1965 sci-fi novel.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk on the red carpet for Dune’s London premiere about what it was like to be leading the (expected) massive franchise, he said: ‘It feels like a total f**king dream come true, and like I’m pinching myself!’
He added: ‘I feel like it’s the lead character thing and it’s also the Hans Zimmer thing, because these are the kinds of movies he does. [I’m] very grateful, very grateful.’
Prolific composer Zimmer, who Chalamet later excitedly shouted out again in his main interview, is one of Hollywood’s biggest-ever composers, responsible for the soundtracks of films including No Time to Die, Dunkirk, Inception, Batman Begins, The Lion King and Gladiator.
We get the actor’s enthusiasm – 64-year-old Zimmer must be right at the top of most film fans’ list to be the composer of their personal soundtrack, and Chalamet is getting the real deal.
Oscar-nominee Chalamet rocketed to fame in 2017’s Call Me By Your Name, since turning in popular performances in Lady Bird, The King and Little Women.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk and other press, the 26-year-old also encouraged audiences to see the film in cinemas – provided they put ‘safety first’.
He added: ‘If you like big movies, if you like movies where an auteur gets to do what he wants, like Christopher Nolan movies, like Denis Villeneuve movies, then you literally help the ability to make a second one if you go see this in cinemas.’
In the US, as part of Warner Bros’ 2021 slate, Dune will also be available to stream on HBO Max on the same day as the film’s theatrical release on October 21.
The star was also keen to emphasise that he was up for Dune part two (‘Hell yeah!’), which is being planned by the studio but not yet confirmed, as the actor shared on his part that ‘we don’t know if it’s going’.
Alongside Dune, with its rumoured $165millon (£120m) budget This autumn he is set to feature in Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch and is currently filming on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory prequel Wonka.
Dune is released in cinemas on October 21.
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