Why Dune Director Showed Baron Harkonnen Naked in His First Scene
Denis Villeneuve, the director of Dune, believed that Baron Harkonnen’s naked form was beautiful, and needed to be shown in his first scene. Dune is the galaxy-spanning sci-fi epic based on Frank Herbert’s novel of the same name, which was released in 2021. The film received enormous praise for its intricate worldbuilding and for the strong performances of its large ensemble cast. With its 155-minute runtime, Dune covered the first half of Herbert’s novel, and Dune: Part Two will complete the story upon its release in 2023.
Among the reasons for Dune’s success was its stunning production design. The production team behind the film created immense sets, huge replicas of vehicles (including two twelve-tonne Ornithopters), and highly detailed costumes, which were all framed by Greig Fraser’s cinematography. Stellan Skarsgård, who played the menacing Baron Harkonnen, was a particular recipient of the production team’s skill. The actor would spend seven hours a day in the makeup chair in order to be transformed into the hulking character. In recognition of its achievement, Dune has been nominated in ten categories at the upcoming Academy Awards, including Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Cinematography, and Best Visual Effects.
Related: Dune: Why Dennis Villeneuve Feared That Baron Harkonnen Would Be A Joke
Now, at an event hosted by the Directors Guild of America, Villeneuve has expanded on his appreciation of the work on Baron Harkonnen’s appearance and explained why audiences see the character naked in his first scene. The director shared his feelings on the Baron’s naked appearance stating that “I was just in love with the naked Baron.” He then went on to reveal that the film
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