Timothée Chalamet on Paul’s Burden in Dune: Part Three

Timothée Chalamet has shared fresh insights into his return as Paul Atreides in the next chapter of Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic. This time around, the story picks up 15 to 20 years after the last instalment, with Chalamet stepping into the shoes of an older, more world-weary leader. The actor, currently on the promo trail for his latest film Marty Supreme, opened up about the shift in his character’s journey.

“Without giving too much away about Dune: Part Three, but I am playing older. And also someone who's been impacted by years of leadership and carries that weight. It's different,”

he explained, hinting at a significant change in Paul’s outlook and the overall feel of the film.

Shifting Tone and Creative Challenges

When pressed on how this evolution would affect the film’s atmosphere, Chalamet kept his cards close to his chest.

“I don't want to say too much. But what I will say is Denis' been so incredibly spot on about realising the challenge. I mean, a lot of the creative conversations Denis and I had – which are really his creative corner, and worldview and script development that I really have little to do with – were well aware of the challenges of making a third film.”

He went on to say,

“And I thought it was inspiring from an artist's point of view, not necessarily from an acting one, but from an artist's point of view, to go, 'Wow, look at this guy really meet the challenges of a third film head on, when the first two have been well-received'.”

Chalamet’s comments suggest the creative team is keenly aware of the expectations and hurdles that come with continuing such a much-hyped saga.

Balancing Contrasting Roles

Chalamet also spoke about juggling his work on Dune 3 with his role in Marty Supreme, noting the stark differences between the two projects.

“Had the roles been similar, it might have been more complicated. I’d have thought, ‘Oh, man… How do I not let these roles bleed into each other?’”

he admitted.

He described the contrast between the two films:

“They are such different roles and the tones of the film couldn’t be more different. A high-wire, Safdie brother, New York, 1950s period piece about a borderline delusional, ambitious character in contrast to a Denis Villeneuve sci-fi epic space opera.”

This clear divide, he reckons, made it easier to keep each performance distinct.

Returning Cast and New Faces

Filming for the third Dune wrapped up last month, with Chalamet joined by familiar faces like Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Josh Brolin, Christopher Walken, and Jason Momoa. The cast also welcomes Robert Pattinson, adding fresh energy to the ensemble. The story adapts Frank Herbert’s Dune: Messiah, placing Paul at the centre of a galaxy-wide conflict as the Fremen face off against every major political force vying for control of the Spice.

The much-anticipated third chapter is set to hit cinemas on 18 December 2026, promising a new era for the saga and its characters.