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Denis Villeneuve didn’t just bring Frank Herbert’sDunebooks to life, he also helped fans connect with the characters and their struggles through his narrative. To further acknowledge audiences’ interpretation of the characters, Villeneuve sat for an interview withJake’s Takesafter the release ofDune: Part Twoand compared Timothée Chalamet’s role to aStar Warscharacter.
Apparently during the interview, asked if he believes that moviegoers have understood who Paul Atreides truly is and realized his motives, Denis Villeneuve claimed to hope for fans to realize that Timothée Chalamet’s character is an antihero. Later comparing him with Anakin Skywalker, one of the most debated and polarizingStar Warscharacters, Villeneuve offered a better perspective.
Denis Villeneuve Compared Timothée Chalamet’sDuneRole with aStar WarsCharacters
WhileDenis Villeneuvewas hailed for his iconic adaptation of Frank Herbert’sDunenovels, based on the cinematography, casting, and set design, he was quick to realize that people might not realize the truth behind Timothée Chalamet’s character. Especially the ones who haven’t read the books are far from understanding the motives behind Chalamet’s Paul Atreides.
Timothée Chalamet Must Swallow the Hard Pill Because Not in Our Wildest Dreams Did We Imagine Beetlejuice 2 Will Beat Dune 2
Therefore, sitting for an interview withJake’s Takes, Denis Villeneuve addressed the truth behind Timothée Chalamet’s character. Explaining how Paul Atreides is actually an antihero that people often root for, Villeneuve even compared the character to aStar Warsrole. In an attempt to simplify his explanation, the director mentioned that Paul is much like Anakin Skywalker.
I hope so [people are understanding the way Paul was meant to be understood]… The idea was to create a distance with Paul and that to understand that he took the wrong door, and so that the movie would be a cautionary tale against Messianic figure.
No one can watch the movie thinking that Paul is a triumph at the end. One of the good Dune adaptations was Star Wars, and Paul is absolutely much closer to Anakin than Luke Skywalker.
Comparing Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides to Anakin Skywalker, Denis Villeneuve admitted that people can easily get confused and swayed by the fact that Paul seems like a hero. Therefore, clarifying thatDune: Part Twois a cautionary tale that shatters the idea of celebrating Messianic figures, Villeneuve mentioned that Paul is a polarizing figure much like Anakin, who makes people root for them as well as debate against their qualities.
Paul Atreides and Anakin Skywalker are Both Polarizing Antiheroes
Considering how Denis Villeneuve mentioned changing the script forDune: Part Twoso as to equally focus on Paul’s journey as Lisan al Gaib and address how power can corrupt people, the filmmaker compared him with Anakin Skywalker. Although Villeneuve mentioned making the mistake of previously believing that Paul was more similar to Luke Skywalker than Anakin, the director admitted to changing his perspective over time.
“That’s a difficult thing to execute”: Denis Villeneuve Did the Right Thing in Not Repeating David Lynch’s Ambitious Mistake in Dune 2
So it seems that by the end of theDunetrilogy, fans and moviegoers might finally realize thatTimothée Chalamet‘s Paul Atreides is more of an antihero than the Messiah he’s being hailed as. Although a bit of it was hinted at in the sequel following his changing behavior towards Zendaya’s Chani, Denis Villeneuve believes that people will soon realize the depth of Paul’s character, but will find it difficult to hate him, much like Anakin.
While inStar Wars,Anakin Skywalker’s transition into the dark side, leading him to get corrupted and rationalize destroying the Jedi Order made him a hateful character, his role inClone Warswas hailed for his childlike innocence, sense of adventure, innovation, and curiosity. Anakin’s character on the one hand portrayed how power can corrupt even the best, on the other hand, it showcased his cool rule-breaking side that people thrive for.
Therefore, at the end of the day, Anakin remained one of the most important yet polarizing characters in theStar Warsfranchise. And perhaps, by the end of theDunetrilogy, even Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides will transform into someone like Anakin, who will not only become a cautionary character but also an idol for his bold moves and focus towards his goal.
Dunemovies are currently available to watch on Max.
Star Warsfilms are currently available to watch on Disney+.
Krittika Mukherjee
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3218
Krittika Mukherjee is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on films, TV shows, and celebrity news with over 3,000 articles published. With an educational background in Journalism, and a keen interest in filmmaking, Krittika blends factual precision with creative flair, when crafting her editorials, or dissecting fan theories.Her coverage often includes news and analyses of critically acclaimed films, celebrity news, and franchises like the Wizarding World, LOTR, DC, and MCU—particularly Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Superheroes, and fan theories. As a Wizarding World aficionado, Krittika has spent countless hours exploring hidden backstories, unadapted book moments, spells, and trivias surrounding J.K. Rowling’s lore.An imaginative writer with a way with words, Krittika has worked as an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a web content writer for a year. She brought her experience and expertise to FandomWire to pursue her desire for sipping coffee while dissecting films and tracking celebrity drama.
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Denis VilleneuveTimothée Chalamet
