Pattinson was a big fan of Villeneuve’s “Dune” movies before the opportunity came to join the cast. “I absolutely adored these movies, saw them multiple times in the theater. I was talking to you on the set of ‘The Drama,'” he said, looking over to Zendaya, ” I was like, ‘How do I get in one of those “Dune” movies?’ It was a very unexpected call a few months later.”

“They’re such a towering achievement by the cast,” Pattinson continued. “Everybody wants to work with Denis; he’s a master. And when you see the scope and scale and ambition of these movies, like on set, you get why they feel like this on the screen. It’s just extraordinary.”

About Scytale specifically, Pattinson said he was eager to play a character that’s quite “unusual” in the book. “You can’t really tell whose side he’s on. That’s kind of what makes him quite interesting, he said. “I wouldn’t say he’s a conventional bad guy, as such. He might even be a good guy. Who knows? I will also find out when I see the movie. It’s an extremely fun character to play and the look of it is quite extraordinary.”

Duncan Idaho is back!
Yes, Momoa’s character returns for “Part Three,” even though the Atreides warrior died honorably in the first movie.

But now, Villeneuve teased, “He comes back just at the right moment in the story. And it’s a very important comeback. Paul is struggling with his identity, and having that kind of strong Atreides figure coming back from the past will have a tremendous impact.”

How “Dune’s” artisans brought Villeneuve’s vision to life.
As previously reported, composer Hans Zimmer returns to score the film. Costume designer Jacqueline West, production designer Patrice Vermette and editor Joe Walker also returned. Linus Sandgren is the new cinematographer for “Part Three,” stepping in for Greig Fraser, who shot the first two movies (and won an Oscar for the first film).

Villeneuve teased that the world has changed in the 17 years Paul ruled Arrakis: the desert climate itself has changed, but the action will take place on different parts of Arrakis and totally new planets as well. “I wanted to approach this with a new pair of eyes,” he said.

Sandgren shot most of the movie on 65mm film, but “a big part of it was shot on Imax film, which was a first for me,” Villeneuve said. “I kept the desert in digital because I like the brutality.” Filming with the “epic” Imax cameras was unique. “When you see the result on screen, it’s quite unmatchable,” he added. “I hope I will have the chance to do it again.”

As for how he’d like audiences to see “Part Three,” Villeneuve said, “The movie is really meant to be an Imax experience and to be seen on the biggest screen as possible.”

So, what’s the status of the movie right now? Denis confirmed the film is still “cooking” ahead of its scheduled Dec. 18 release date. “It’s going well; the movie is alive,” he joked, explaining that the team is “full-speed” in post-production; he’s finished with the edit, but finishing the VFX takes time.

“After this [event], I’m running out to the editing room again,” Villeneuve said, introducing the first taste of the film.

-Variety