Making a film is a collaborative process, whether people working together are on the same project or not. Timothée Chalamet wrapped his venture into Arrakis and received help for the stunt process of Dune 2 from Tom Cruise. While the Mission: Impossible actor did not star in the film, he gave the lead in the Frank Herbert adaptation a list of trainers and what to do for training.
The Top Gun actor is known for doing his own stunts at a level unlike any other actor. For his work, he has learned how to fly a helicopter, fly jets, skydive, and more to make for the most visceral theatrical experience.
Timothée Chalamet Recalls What Tom Cruise Had to Say About Stunt Training for Dune 2
In an interview with GQ magazine, the lead in the Denis Villeneuve sci-fi blockbuster had recalled meeting the legendary action star after filming the first part of the two-part epic. An email popped into his inbox that gave him a list of trainers, including experts in helicopters and motorcycles and how “Old Hollywood” worked for stunts versus how everything works today.
“After I met Tom Cruise, right after finishing the first Dune, he sent me the most wonderfully inspiring email. He basically said, ‘In Old Hollywood, you would be getting dance training and fight training, and nobody is going to hold you to that standard today. So it’s up to you.’ The email was really like a war cry.”
Timothée Chalamet to GQ
Timothée Chalamet certainly needed the extra training for Dune 2. Based on the trailers and an Empire interview with Villeneuve, the film will be “a war movie.” The upscaled action will be explosive as the lead’s character, Paul, tries to defeat the Harkonnen, who have seemingly defeated his family and conquered Arrakis.
Due to the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, Dune 2 was delayed from November 3 to March 15, 2024.
