Dune Director Denis Villeneuve 'Banned' Cell Phones from His Sets Since the Devices Are 'Like a Drug'

AND Dune set is no place for cellphones or social media, according to director Denis Villeneuve.

In a new and extensive interview with Los Angeles Times published on Thursday, December 26, the 57-year-old director explained why the cast and crew on his projects are not encouraged to bring certain devices on set.

‘Dine: Part Two’: Everything you need to know

“Cinema is an act of presence,” said the Oscar-nominated director. “When a painter paints, he must be absolutely focused on the paint he is applying to the canvas.”

“It’s the same with a dancer when he makes a gesture. With a director, you have to do it with the crew, and everyone has to focus and be completely in the present, listen to each other, be in a relationship with each other,” he told Los Angeles Times.

Denis Villeneuve (left) with Javier Bardem (center) and Josh Brolin (right) during the filming of ‘Dune: Part Two’.

Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros. Pictures

Villeneuve added: “So cell phones are banned on my set as well, from day one. That is forbidden. When you say cut, you don’t want someone going to his phone to look at his Facebook account.”

Earlier in the interview, the director shared another reason why he’s not so tech-savvy at times.

‘Dine’ director Denis Villeneuve says ‘There are words on paper’ for third film

“I feel like human beings are being controlled by algorithms right now,” Villeneuve said. “We’re acting like artificial intelligence circuits. The ways we see the world are narrow-minded binaries. We’re separating from each other, and society is falling apart in some ways. It’s scary.”

Villeneuve called the ability to constantly access others “addiction.”

“It’s compulsive,” he said. “It’s like a drug. I’m very tempted to switch off. It would be fresh air.”

Premiere of Warner Bros. “Dine: Part Two” in New York — February 25, 2024.

Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Warner Bros.

The first part of Villeneuve Dune the film adaptation of Frank Hubert’s novel arrived in October 2021, starring Timothée Chalamet (Paul Atreides), Zendaya (Chani) and Oscar Isaac (Duke Leto Atreides). The second part was released in March 2024.

A-listers Austin Butler (Feyd-Rautha), Florence Pugh (Princess Irulan) and Anya Taylor-Joy (Paul’s unborn sister Alia Atreides) joined for Dina: The second part.

Dune Cast: Meet the new and returning stars of the Sci-Fi franchise

While fans expressed frustration at seeing Zendaya, 28, get just seven minutes of screen time in the first half, Chalamet, 29, couldn’t have asked for a better performance.

“She was like a breath of fresh air,” he said Complete unknown star told PEOPLE in a joint interview with the actress in October 2021. “She had great energy.”

imothee Chalamet, Zendaya and Austin Butler at a press conference for “Dune: Part Two” on February 21, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea.

Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

In October, Villeneuve told Deadline that he was already in the “writing zone” for a third film, which would adapt Hubert’s Dune: Messiah. However, he sees Dune and Dina: The second part as a “single entity” and a “finished” film.

“But yes, as Herbert did with Dune: MessiahI think it would be a great idea to do something completely different,” the director told the news outlet. “The story takes place like 12 years after we left the characters at the end of the movie The second part. Their journey, their story is different this time and that’s why I always say it’s the same world, a new film with new circumstances.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Dune and Dina: The second part now current at Max.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education