After literally traveling around the world in 20 days promoting Dune: Part TwoDenis Villeneuve received a triumphant welcome at the Canadian premiere of his new film in Montreal on Wednesday evening.
As soon as he arrived on Dune's sand-colored carpet, the Quebec filmmaker was cheered by dozens of fans chanting “Denis, Denis, Denis!” He generously took a few minutes to sign a few autographs and meet some of his admirers.
Arriving home after a long and tiring promotional tour around the world, Denis Villeneuve was excited to finally be able to show his new film to his friends, family (including his parents) and fans in Quebec.
“For me, the ultimate test is always to present my films in Quebec in front of my friends, my friends, people who are direct, honest and open,” he confided on the red carpet.
“Quebecers, we don’t have a filter! It would be unthinkable for me not to show my film in Montreal. I’m really excited that the Canadian premiere is happening here.”
AFP
With its walls covered in large Dune posters, the top floor of the Cineplex Odéon Banque Scotia looked like the planet Arrakis for this special evening, hosted by Jay Du Temple and attended by nearly 600 fans and guests. The film was shown simultaneously in two theaters in the complex, including one with an IMAX screen.
It was Denis Villeneuve himself who asked the Warner Bros. studio. that a screening will be organized in Montreal before the film's release. Actor Timothée Chalamet was originally supposed to accompany the Quebec filmmaker on this stopover in Quebec, but he had to cancel at the last minute due to illness.
“Timothée is very sick and he is not the only actor in the film who is sick,” explains Villeneuve.
“Several in the last few days [membres de l’équipe] started dropping like flies. Zendaya no longer has a voice, and Austin (Butler) is also sick. Something happened on our journey from Seoul to New York and viruses started running around.”
MARIO BEAUREGARD/AGENCE QMI
The box office savior
One of the most anticipated Hollywood films of the year, Dune: Part II, is seen by several experts as a box office savior at the start of a difficult year for American productions at the box office.
Specialized Hollywood magazines assume that Denis Villeneuve's new film will gross more than $150 million at the box office worldwide in its first few days in theaters. Is the Quebec filmmaker worried about the box office returns of his Dune sequel?
“That’s part of the game, because films like Dune are expensive to produce,” he analyzes. Yes, that is one of my concerns. The predictions are a little scary because they put pressure on the film. But the enthusiasm is very strong. We will see!”
Recall that the promotional tour for Dune: Part II began on February 6 in Mexico and then made stops in Paris, London, Seoul and New York. On every red carpet, the film's many stars wowed photographers with their daring and spectacular outfits.
“Warner believes strongly in the film and has really given his all to the promotional tour. It’s great,” concluded Villeneuve.
“Dune: Part Two” hits theaters Thursday night.