Production designer Patrice Vermette says “Dune-part-three/">Dune: Part Three” will deliver a “major spectacle,” pointing to an opening battle sequence built around a 55-ton spaceship. The film, the third installment in the franchise, is scheduled to open on Dec. 18.
In an interview with Variety at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, Vermette described an opening conceived as an expanse of black sand and ships attacking a planet. The production built one vessel that could be seen in full 360 degrees, including both its interior and exterior.
The ship had to be placed underground and buried for the scene, which takes place in the rain. Vermette said the crew used spider rigs and touch spinners for the battle, while a crane lifted the ship every two days and a pump system removed the water. He said the demanding setup was worth the effort.
Director Denis Villeneuve’s instruction to Vermette was not to repeat sets. The designer said he and Villeneuve aim to challenge one another and find new approaches, even while working within the same fictional world.
Timothée Chalamet returns as Paul Atreides. Inspired by Frank Herbert’s “Dune Messiah,” the story takes place 17 years after the previous film and examines the consequences of Paul’s rule as emperor.
Vermette also discussed the design approach behind the franchise, saying that objects in its fantasy world need to feel grounded in reality and serve the story. His work on the earlier films included creating the Harkonnen world of Giedi Prime, Atreides Castle and the Imperial Nexus Laboratory on Arrakis. For the laboratory sequence, he said, close coordination with cinematographer Greig Fraser and other department heads helped the crew stage the scene without faking sunlight.
Sources: Variety.