‘Ultimately it was feeling’: Denis Villeneuve on Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya's friendship

During a panel at an event in Los Angeles, Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve revealed the evolving chemistry between stars Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya. 

According to him, their offscreen friendship played a significant role in uplifting the relationship between Paul Atreides and Chani on screen. 

The chemistry between Chalamet and Zendaya 

Villeneuve explained how right from the beginning, the bond between Chalamet and  Zendaya could not be overlooked. Somewhere, it was also a reason for the success of their film, reported Deadline. 

"They met each other in Part One, briefly, and spontaneously they became friends," Villeneuve said according to the media outlet. He added, "As we did the promotional tour, their relationship became, let's say, a deeper meaning - they're close friends. And for me, it's a tremendous help, of course, because Jon [Spaihts, screenwriter] and I had structured the whole story on their relationship through the birth of the love between Paul and Chani, then the struggle of this love with the pressure from the outside, from the politics, and then the break”. 

Dune: Part One 

The actors were introduced during the making of Dune: Part One and became good friends during the promotion of the film. As the filming progressed, they became better friends and got more comfortable with each other. 

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Camera tests 

He disclosed, "All that, I need, so it was all about the chemistry between them - I had put all my chips on that. And so it was crucial that to capture that on-screen and bring that chemistry on camera." 

Adding, "We had Timothee and we had met Zendaya, we did some camera tests - not to test her skills, of course, she's a tremendous actress - but at the time I needed to know her," Villeneuve said, adding, "I wanted to see how we could establish that [relationship] together and how ultimately it was feeling, and it was a fantastic experience," as per Deadline.