Dune 3 Design: 55-ton ship anchors final chapter

A 55-ton spaceship anchors the opening sequence of 'Dune: Part Three.' Production designer Patrice Vermette built the vessel physically to handle the film's intense weather effects. The movie releases in theaters on Dec. 18.

Vermette described the set construction as a logistical challenge. The scene required the ship to be buried underground while rain fell continuously. The crew used spider rigs and touch spinners to move the prop during a large battle sequence. A crane lifted the ship every two days during daylight hours. A pump system removed water to keep the interior dry. Vermette built only one physical ship that allowed viewers to see the interior and exterior from all angles.

The third installment in the franchise follows Timothee Chalamet as Paul Atreides. The story takes place 17 years after the events of the previous film. It draws from Frank Herbert's novel 'Dune Messiah.' The plot examines the consequences of Paul's rule as emperor after his ascent to power.

Director Denis Villeneuve gave Vermette one specific instruction for the design process. He told the designer not to repeat sets from the earlier films. Vermette adhered to this rule throughout production. The team worked to ensure that every object in the fantasy world had a reason to exist. They grounded the design in reality to support the narrative.

Vermette and Villeneuve have collaborated since 2013 on the film 'Enemy.' Their relationship began in the early 2000s when they worked on commercials together. They shared a circle of friends but never had overlapping schedules for a feature film until then. Vermette recalled receiving a text message from Villeneuve after his project 'Dallas Buyer's Club' was delayed by a year. That message led to their first major collaboration.

The designer received the first 100 pages of the script for the new film. He revisited the source material and took extensive notes. He emphasized that the design must tell a story. This approach aligns with previous works like 'Sicario,' 'Arrival,' and the first two 'Dune' films. The team focused on creating environments that felt authentic without relying on digital tricks.

Vermette created the planet Giedi Prime for the Harkonnens. He used industrial septic tanks as inspiration for the dark, black world. He also built the Atreides Castle and the Imperial Nexus Laboratory on the planet Arrakis. The laboratory scene presented a lighting challenge. The team worked with cinematographer Greig Fraser to execute the scene without cheating sunlight. They relied on a collaborative process with other department heads to solve the logistics.

Vermette received Variety's Creative Impact Award at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival this year. He discussed his career path with the outlet's senior artisans editor Jazz Tangcay. Vermette started his career in music videos before moving to feature films. He found his comfort zone when he began collaborating closely with directors who had a clear vision. He noted that the adrenaline of working on large-scale productions remains a driving force in his work.

The production team faced various challenges during the shoot. For the 'Backrooms' project, which Vermette also designed, the sheer volume of space was a hurdle. The team had to use a second rug with a different tone because they ran out of material. They adapted this restriction into a symbolic transition for the film. For 'Dune: Part Three,' the focus remained on practical construction and collaborative problem solving to realize the director's vision.