Just two days after the Oscars and amid a sea of brutal headlines, Timothée Chalamet was noticeably absent from the in-person launch of Dune: Part Three in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
While director Denis Villeneuve and co-stars Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Javier Bardem gathered at AMC Century City to debut the first trailer, Chalamet appeared only via a pre-recorded video message.
His video message
In the clip, Chalamet addressed the crowd directly. “After two impactful films with an in-development process that started in the mid-2010s, a production process that started in 2018, and over 150 production days across the three films at large, today we are debuting the trailer to Dune: Part Three,” he said, according to People.
He went on to praise Villeneuve, calling him “the master of cinema” and “the great artist that is Denis Villeneuve.” “This film would not exist without him,” Chalamet added, describing the trilogy as a “true act of cinema.”
He closed by saying, “I’m not alone in saying thank you to Denis for his dedication in bringing the Dune films to life and now the Dune trilogy to life. I hope you enjoy this first sneak peek at Dune: Part Three.”
Zendaya’s excitement
© REX Features/Shutterstock /The Grosby GroupZendaya, who plays Chani opposite Chalamet’s Paul Atreides, made it clear how much the franchise has meant to her.
“I’m so excited,” she said after confirming she had already seen the footage. “These movies have meant so much to me over the years. I’ve literally been able to grow up.”
© REX Features/Shutterstock /The Grosby GroupIt was a packed theater, and Villeneuve even joked about the scale of the event, quipping, “It’s a trailer launch? It looks like a premiere.”
The footage itself signals a dramatic new chapter. Chalamet’s Paul Atreides, now emperor, is shown preparing for the arrival of twins with Zendaya’s Chani. In one dramatic image, Paul appears with a shaved head as he addresses a massive crowd of followers, cementing his evolution from reluctant prince to powerful ruler. The scale looks bigger, the stakes higher, and the tone even more intense as the trilogy moves toward its epic conclusion.
A rough March
© GettyChalamet’s virtual appearance comes after a difficult awards weekend and an overall bad month for the Oscar nominee. The 30-year-old had been an early Best Actor favorite for Marty Supreme, but ultimately lost to Michael B. Jordan for Sinners. The film went home empty-handed despite having 9 nominations.
Adding to the sting were widespread jokes about his recent comment that “no one cares about ballet or opera, a remark that sparked backlash, especially given his family’s background in dance. Ballerina Misty Copeland later appeared onstage during an Oscars performance, a moment some viewers saw as intentional.
© Dia DipasupilSources told the Daily Mail that the atmosphere after his loss was “awkward,” with the night described as a “weird room to be in.” Though he and girlfriend Kylie Jenner attended the Vanity Fair after-party, cameras reportedly followed them closely throughout the evening.
More headlines
As if awards-season disappointment wasn’t enough, Chalamet has also dealt with messy news regarding his love life before Jenner. In a recent interview with the Daily Mail, IG influencer and former adult entertainer Sarah Tena alleged that she had a years-long non-exclusive relationship with him before his romance with Jenner, saying she was “very confused” when news of the pairing broke. “It doesn’t add up,” she said.
Whether coincidence or careful timing, Chalamet’s decision to skip the in-person Dune trailer event has people raising their eyebrows. He could be taking some space from the industry overall, avoiding any chance of interviews, or be busy with other work.
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