Quebec director Denis Villeneuve was feeling the love from his family and friends as he returned to Montreal for the Canadian premiere of 害羞草研究所淒une: Part Two.害羞草研究所�

And that害羞草研究所檚 fitting because Villeneuve says that, despite the film害羞草研究所檚 big action sequences and epic storyline, even he was surprised to realize that his latest adaptation of Frank Herbert害羞草研究所檚 beloved sci-fi novel is first and foremost a love story.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 an action film, it害羞草研究所檚 a war movie, but it害羞草研究所檚 above all a love story,害羞草研究所� he said Thursday, the day after he was met by cheering fans at a red carpet premiere at a downtown movie theatre.

In the followup to 2021害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淒une: Part One,害羞草研究所� Timoth茅e Chalamet returns as Paul Atreides, the one-time heir to a now decimated powerful family. The movie chronicles his transformation into a warrior and religious figure as he and his mother, played by Rebecca Ferguson, unite with Zendaya害羞草研究所檚 Chani and the desert-dwelling Fremen in a battle against those who killed his family.

Villeneuve said filming 害羞草研究所淒une害羞草研究所� involved extensive, grueling shoots in the scorching desert of Abu Dhabi and Jordan.

In addition to concerns over protecting the cast and crew 害羞草研究所� who had to work under the sun with heavy equipment and thick costumes 害羞草研究所� the team faced the logistical challenges of getting equipment into the desert.

害羞草研究所淭hey built something like 30 kilometres of eco-friendly roads that probably don害羞草研究所檛 exist anymore, because they were meant to disappear,害羞草研究所� he said.

But Villeneuve said it was important to him to do justice to the book害羞草研究所檚 desert landscapes, as well as the love story that bloomed between Paul Atreides and Chani.

害羞草研究所淭hrough this love story, we understand all the tragedy of the Fremen, and I think that害羞草研究所檚 the heart of the film,害羞草研究所� he said.

The 害羞草研究所淒une害羞草研究所� project is a deeply personal one for Villeneuve, who has described the 1965 novel that spawned the feature as a seminal part of his teenage years.

He said that, in many ways, 害羞草研究所淒une: Part Two害羞草研究所� lives up to his initial vision, especially when it comes to depicting the Fremen. But though he tried to stay 害羞草研究所渁s close as possible害羞草研究所� to the book, he acknowledged that it can be tricky adapting a beloved work of art for film.

害羞草研究所淏y the process of the adaptation itself, it害羞草研究所檚 an act of a certain kind of violence regarding the book,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淚 had to kill a lot of darlings in order to transform it into a movie, so there害羞草研究所檚 a lot of new things in this adaptation that the old me would say, 害羞草研究所楻eally?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

Villeneuve害羞草研究所檚 science-fiction sequel had been set to open last November but was delayed amid an actors strike that prevented its star cast from promoting big studio projects.

害羞草研究所淒une: Part One害羞草研究所� faced its own challenges thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic which imposed gathering restrictions on theatres. In the United States, Warner Bros.害羞草研究所� put the film on the HBO Max streaming service the same day it hit theatres.

With those pandemic challenges in the past, Villeneuve is adamant that people go to the theatre to get the full 害羞草研究所淒une害羞草研究所� experience.

害羞草研究所淭he whole fabric, the DNA of the film is to be a spectacle on the big screen,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淎nd that害羞草研究所檚 something that is crucial for me because I feel that there害羞草研究所檚 something about the communal that is very positive for humans, that we are not meant to be isolated.害羞草研究所�

Returning stars Chalamet, Zendaya and Ferguson are joined this time by Austin Butler as Harkonnen heir and villain Feyd-Rautha, Christopher Walken as Emperor Shaddam IV and Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan.

While previous stops on 害羞草研究所淒une害羞草研究所檚害羞草研究所� promotion tour have drawn headlines for Zendaya害羞草研究所檚 daring fashion and appearances by the film害羞草研究所檚 big stars, Wednesday害羞草研究所檚 Canadian premiere was a less glitzy affair.

With a last-minute cancellation by Chalamet due to illness, Villeneuve walked the sand-coloured carpet in Montreal with his partner 害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淒une害羞草研究所� producer 害羞草研究所� Tanya Lapointe, his parents and fellow Montrealer and longtime collaborator Patrice Vermette, who won an Oscar for production design for the first 害羞草研究所淒une.害羞草研究所�

While he doesn害羞草研究所檛 know if or when he害羞草研究所檒l return to filming in Canada 害羞草研究所� though he害羞草研究所檇 like to some day 害羞草研究所� Villeneuve said it was important to him to celebrate his new film at home with friends and family.

害羞草研究所淭he love of their presence, their benevolence, their will to welcome me, to take care of me 害羞草研究所� it was very moving for me to see all those friends together.害羞草研究所�

While a part three has yet to be confirmed, Villeneuve 害羞草研究所� and the film害羞草研究所檚 ending 害羞草研究所� suggest that a third film could be in the works.

A third and final movie 害羞草研究所渕akes sense害羞草研究所� to close out the story arc of Paul Atreides, said Villeneuve.

But after six years of filmmaking, he said he害羞草研究所檚 first going to take a few weeks or months off before thinking about his next project.

害羞草研究所淒une: Part Two害羞草研究所� opens in theatres across Canada on Friday.

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