Denis Villeneuve breaks down sandworm evolution in Dune: Part 2

Sandworms we saw Dune: Part 2 Far from what we saw at first glance dune. Yes, they share the same physical characteristics: round mouths, crystal clear teeth, and thick fur, ideally suited to withstand the brutal desert environment of Arrakis. But on a narrative level, they play a different role, transforming from mysterious entities to well-known allies.

“In the first part, [the sandworms] director Denis Villeneuve told Mashable in a video interview. “You hear about them, but you barely see them.”

To outsiders in Arrakis, sandworms are a hidden threat.

In fact, our sandworm interactions in 2021 dune Most are limited to the flash of their mouths sucking spice harvesters, or the signs of their bodies surging beneath the sand. This is partly due to Villeneuve’s efforts to bring sandworm behavior to the screen. “Sandworms will always try to protect themselves from surfaces,” he said. “It’s a very shy creature. I like the idea of ​​it trying to be as invisible as possible, even though it’s a huge creature.”

Sandworm’s limited field of vision dune It’s also a matter of perspective. From the perspective of non-Arakis natives like Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) or Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac), the sandworms are the terrifying unknown Alien creatures. duneThe careful retention of sandworm imagery fits the characters’ point of view and their unfamiliarity with the desert.

It’s not until Paul and his mother Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) find themselves deep in the desert of Arrakis that we get our first glimpse of a complete sandworm, as they take refuge on a rocky outcrop At this time, it was looming above their heads.This scene marks a major shift in approach dune Treat the legendary sci-fi beast. Sandworms are no longer hiding. We linger on the creature for several shots, the film getting us used to the sight. The message is clear: Paul, Jessica, and the audience are no longer in Arakan. They were now in Fremen territory, which meant worms.

Dune: Part 2 Further building on that pivotal sandworm scene. There is no longer any confusion or mystery around them. Here we get up close and personal with their scaly, ridged surfaces. Characters ride them across the desert or into battle. At one point, we even encountered a small sandworm in a Fremen habitat that was built to create a substance known as the Water of Life.

Familiarity with sandworms became a form of cultural penetration.

A new side of sandworms is revealed Dune: Part 2 It was a direct result of Paul’s alliance with the Fremen. As we learn more about the native peoples of Arrakis, we also learn about their perspectives on various aspects of desert life, such as sandworms. They regard the sandworms (which they call Shai-Hulud) as incarnations of the gods, and therefore have a loyal reverence for them. However, they are also able to control sandworms and use them for their own needs, such as transportation.Sandworms can even become a form of garbage disposal: in a darkly funny scene early on Dune: Part 2The Fremen summon a worm to devour the corpses of slaughtered Harkonnen soldiers, leaving no trace of their previous battles.

The evolution of the sandworm from fearsome beast to a familiar part of everyday life also appears in Frank Herbert’s novel. After meeting Paul again after two years, Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin) is surprised by the ease with which the Fremen appear in front of the sandworms. “All people on Arrakis fear this creature, and you treat it like a ride animal,” he told Paul. The idea of ​​”everyone” really only applies to outsiders who see sandworms as an obstacle to spice production. While colonial forces like the Harkonnens and Atreides shun the worms, the Fremen embrace them.

For Villeneuve, Paul’s closeness to the Fremen and love of their culture gave him a better opportunity to explore how the Fremen interacted with the worms. “The more Paul learned about the Freeman culture, the more he wanted to be a part of it,” explains Villeneuve. “It really struck me that Paul wanted to immerse himself in a culture and not impose his own way but be more a part of it. One of the aspects was [being a Fremen] Just being able to master a sandworm. “

exist Dune: Part 2Paul finally mastered a sandworm.

This brings us to the heart of the sandworm Dune: Part 2: Paul rides a sandworm for the first time. Not only is this one of the most memorable scenes in Frank Herbert’s original novel, it’s also the closest we’ve gotten to sandworms in the series so far. To complete this setting, Villeneuve tried to ground it in reality as much as possible.

“All of this is based on my own interpretation of the book, how the Fremen were able to jump on and ride the worm, and how that would be physically possible,” Villeneuve said. “I wanted the sandworm ride to look as real as possible and as edgy as possible. I wanted it to feel like a motorcycle race.” The result is a tense avalanche of sand and spice that Villeneuve invites the audience to feel Paul Every bump in the ride. We can also see new details of the worm’s physical morphology, such as the sensitive inner parts of the setae and segmented rings.

The scenario took months to plan, with a dedicated “worm cell” created dedicated to perfecting the interaction between humans and sandworms. “[They were] “It was like the Navy SEALs were dedicated to exploring the technology I wanted to develop,” Villeneuve said. However, he was coy about the actual technology developed for the scene, saying: “I’m always shy about talking about how we shot it. thing, because it breaks the magic in a way. I like that people believe in what we do.”

Still, even after perfecting the art of sandworm riding and giving us a deeper understanding of how sandworms fit into Fremen life, Villeneuve revealed that there’s more to come than these iconic denizens of Arrakis A place to explore. After all, we only see the outside of the worm—what goes on beyond those teeth? If Villeneuve gets his way, we’ll know.

“If there is a dune messiah Adapt, I’ve got a great idea,” he said, his face lighting up. “About how you get go out Of sandworms. “

Dune: Part 2 Now in theaters.