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Robert Pattinson has opened up about the intense experience of filming Dune: Part Three, revealing that the extreme desert heat nearly shut down his ability to think clearly.
Speaking to IndieWire in an interview published on November 3, the Die My Love actor reflected on what it was like shooting the highly anticipated sequel under brutal weather conditions. "When I was doing Dune it was so hot in the desert that I just couldn't question anything," he 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, 'Whatever you want!'"
Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Part Three continues the acclaimed sci-fi saga based on Frank Herbert's novels, adapting Dune Messiah. The upcoming installment, expected to hit theaters on December 18, 2026, follows the aftermath of Paul Atreides' rise to power. Pattinson is reportedly set to play Scytale, a mysterious villainous figure, according to Deadline.
The cast's experiences filming in the harsh desert have become almost as legendary as the franchise itself. Austin Butler, who joined Dune: Part Two as Feyd-Rautha, told Entertainment Weekly in early 2024 that temperatures on set reached 110 degrees. "It became like a microwave," he said. "There were people passing out from heat stroke. And that was just my first week."
Zendaya also spoke to W Magazine about suffering heat stroke during filming, admitting she avoided drinking water to cut down on long walks to faraway restrooms. "One day, I didn't drink enough and I had a heatstroke. I felt so barfy," she recalled.
Villeneuve himself has acknowledged how difficult the production conditions were, telling Entertainment Weekly that he was relieved not to have filmed multiple installments back-to-back. "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," the director said.
Beyond Dune, Pattinson has a packed slate ahead. He stars opposite Zendaya in The Drama, set for release in April, and appears with Jennifer Lawrence in Die My Love, arriving in theaters November 7.
