Patrice Vermette Promises a Major Spectacle in Dune 3
Production designer Patrice Vermette promises the third and final installment in the Dune franchise is going to be a major spectacle. He teases that it will feel like watching the finale of a fireworks show where everything is put in at the end.
Dune: Part Three opens on Dec. 18. Timothee Chalamet returns as Paul Atreides, continuing the story after his ascent to power at the end of Part Two. Inspired by Frank Herbert's novel Dune Messiah, the action takes place 17 years after the events of the previous film and explores the consequences of Paul's rule as emperor.
Building a 55-Ton Spaceship for the Opening Sequence
Patrice Vermette shared insight into how he pulled off the film opening sequence, which he describes as a crazy idea involving an expanse of black sand and ships attacking a planet. One spaceship weighed 55 tons.
The crew needed to put it underground and bury it while rain fell for the entire scene using spider rigs and touch spinners. They only built one ship where the interior and exterior are visible 360 degrees, using a crane every two days and a pump system to take all the water out.
Collaboration and Working With Denis Villeneuve
Vermette received the Creative Impact Award presented at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival and discussed his ongoing collaboration with director Denis Villeneuve. The primary directive from Villeneuve was not to repeat sets, maintaining a motto to challenge each other and make things different.
When Villeneuve proposed Dune, Vermette knew how much Frank Herbert's book meant to the filmmaker, who started storyboarding for it at age 15. Vermette explained that objects in their fantasy world need to be grounded in reality and tell a story.
