Robert Pattinson recently opened up about the extreme heat challenges he faced while filming Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three, which, like its predecessors, was shot largely in the Arabian desert. The intense desert conditions tested the endurance of the cast and crew, making the production far tougher than initially expected, highlighting the severity of heat endured during filming.
Robert Pattinson’s Harrowing Experience with Desert Temperatures
During an interview with IndieWire, Pattinson described how the desert heat was so overwhelming that it affected his mental state on set. Working in such harsh conditions left him feeling disconnected, as he recalled,
“When I was doing ‘Dune’ it was so hot in the desert that I just couldn’t question anything,”
Pattinson said.
“And it was so relaxing, like my brain actually wasn’t operating. I did not have a single functioning brain cell. And I was just listening to Denis [Villeneuve]: ‘Whatever you want!’”
The Sequel Cast and Storyline Details
Pattinson’s role in the third installment remains a mystery, but he is among the prominent new arrivals joining returning stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin, Rebecca Ferguson, and Anya Taylor-Joy. New cast members Nakoa-Wolf Momoa and Ida Brooke are cast as the twin children of Paul and Chani. The film draws from Frank Herbert’s second novel in the series, Dune Messiah, promising to continue the complex saga fans have followed for years.
Heat Challenges Faced by the Entire Cast
Scorching heat is a recurring obstacle for the Dune franchise, and actors have shared the physical toll of filming in desert environments. Austin Butler, portraying the villain Feyd-Rautha in Dune: Part Two, revealed to Entertainment Weekly that the first week of shooting in 110-degree weather led to multiple heatstroke incidents on set.
“It was 110 degrees and so hot,”
Butler said.
“I had the bald cap on, and it was between two soundstages that were just these gray boxes of 200-foot walls and sand. It became like a microwave. There were people passing out from heat stroke. And that was just my first week.”
Butler explained how enduring these harsh conditions created a strong sense of unity among the crew.
“It really bonds the entire crew,”
he said.
“There’s something so humbling about being in such an uncomfortable environment.”
Zendaya also recounted her experience battling heatstroke during the shooting of Dune: Part Two, which took place in Jordan’s desert heat. Her concern over removing her heavy Fremen warrior costume to use the bathroom led her to reduce water intake, ultimately causing her to suffer heat exhaustion.
“I had such a fear of peeing myself or shitting myself, honestly, in the suit on set,”
Zendaya explained.
“We were in Jordan. It was very hot, and I remember thinking, ‘Oh, man, the bathrooms are so far away,’ because we had to hike to the locations. If you have to pee, you need at least 10 minutes to get out of the costumes. I was like, ‘Damn, I don’t want to drink too much water.’ One day, I didn’t drink enough and I had a heatstroke. I felt so barfy. I remember calling my mom on the bathroom floor, saying, ‘I feel terrible.’ She was like, ‘Did you drink water today?’ I said no. I thought I was being smart, but you can’t do that. So, lesson learned.”
Denis Villeneuve on Managing Tough Shooting Conditions
Director Denis Villeneuve spoke about the physical strain caused by filming two Dune movies under such harsh conditions, expressing relief at having breaks between productions. He admitted that his initial plan to shoot back-to-back was arduous.
“Both movies were made in very harsh conditions, and it’s very physically taxing, so to have a break in between them was a blessing,”
Villeneuve said to Entertainment Weekly.
“My first thought was to shoot both movies back to back together, but now I think I would have died. It was really intense, and seeing how the world reacted to ‘Part One’ was a boost of positive energy to go back into the desert.”
Looking Ahead to the Release of Dune: Part Three
Dune: Part Three is slated for release on December 18, 2026, concluding the ambitious trilogy. Given the difficulties experienced by the cast, especially from relentless desert heat, the final installment promises to be the culmination of a remarkable effort under challenging conditions. The shared hardships have forged a strong bond between the creative team and cast, underscoring the immense dedication behind bringing Frank Herbert’s universe to life on screen.
