A new image of Timothée Chalamet as Dune’s Paul Atreides emerges

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

For those of you playing the DUNE drinking game at home, take a shot, because a new image from the upcoming sci-fi epic of Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides has taken a knee online. Directed by ARRIVAL and BLADE RUNNER 2049 helmer Denis Villeneuve, the filmmaker's upcoming adaptation of the legendary novel series written by Frank Herbert is without a doubt the most anticipated sci-fi release this year. Comprised of intricate worlds, cultures, and practices beyond our understanding, the scope of DUNE is daunting indeed, though Charlamet's Atreides is more than willing to explore its array of wonders.

Today's new image hails from Empire Magazine, who in speaking to Villeneuve about his upcoming film, was able to record the director's take on the film's primary character. "Paul has been raised in a very strict environment with a lot of training, because he's the son of a Duke and one day… he's training to be the Duke, Villeneuve tells Empire. But as much as he's been prepared and trained for that role, is it really what he dreams to be? That's the contradiction of that character. It's like Michael Corleone in The Godfather it's someone that has a very tragic fate and he will become something that he was not wishing to become."

Oh dang! You don't evoke the sacred name of Michael Corleone without making damn sure that you've got a powerful character up your sleeve.

In talking about Atreides' dark journey ahead, Villeneuve also teased that viewers will see see Charlamet's character "become a man" as the story plays out. His survival depends on being able to make the right decisions and adapt to different dangerous situations. It's a very beautiful story about someone that becomes empowered, the director revealed. Like any young adult he is looking for his identity and trying to understand his place in the world, and he will have to do things that none of his ancestors were able to do in order to survive. He has a beautiful quality of being curious about other people, of having empathy, something that will attract him towards other cultures, and that's what will save his life.

Last month while speaking with Vanity Fair, Charlamet explained to the outlet that he was stoked to contribute to DUNE on account of Paul's rich character arc. "The immediately appealing thing about Paul was the fact that in a story of such detail and scale and world-building, the protagonist is on an anti-hero's-journey of sorts, said Charlamet. He thinks he's going to be sort of a young general studying his father and his leadership of a fighting force before he comes of age, hopefully a decade later, or something like that.

Directed by Villeneuve from a screenplay he'd penned with Eric Roth and John Spaihts, DUNE revolves around the son of a noble family entrusted with the protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy. Joining Charlamet for the film is an epic cast, of which includes Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Jason Momoa, Stellan Skarsgard, Javier Bardem, David Dastmalchian, Charlotte Rampling, and many more.

DUNE is expected to hit theaters on December 18, 2020.