Timothée Chalamet, Denis Villeneuve React Frankly to Controversial ‘Dune: Part 2’ Popcorn Bucket

As word spreads that the notorious Dune: Part Two popcorn buckets don’t really serve their intended purpose, the movie’s director, Denis Villeneuve, and star Timothée Chalamet weighed in with their thoughts to The New York Times.

The already notorious buckets were designed to evoke the sandworms of Arakis, but reminded more than a few of certain human anatomy. Now, Dune fans looking forward to sticking their hand into a sandworm's mouth(?) and pulling out some warm kernels are realizing the bucket doesn’t even work for dispensing corn.

Users have uploaded videos showing off the paltry amount of snackage an average sandworm dispenses. Men’s Journal tested two of the buckets in the field and found that the tops are most adept at trapping one’s wrist, often popping off and becoming a butter-slathered sandworm bracelet rather than a lid. Even franchise star Josh Brolin has expressed his contempt for the tie-in.

The faulty design has left Chalamet and Villeneuve much to answer for, and don’t they know it. NYT noted that the two collaborators shared “a quick glance” before “both chuckl[ing] nervously” when asked about the viral phenomenon.

“I will say this,” Villeneuve offered. “When I saw it, I went, ‘Hoooooly smokes.’ What the [expletive]!?”

Chalamet admitted he’s still having a hard time wrapping his head around the design. “I can’t tell if someone is at home right now going, ‘My design worked perfectly and everyone’s talking about it.’ Or if someone’s brutally offended by the response,” he said.

“At the same time, it created a lot of fun online,” Villeneuve weighed. “So maybe it’s positive? It’s some kind of …impressive design.”

Though neither wanted to take any credit for the design, both actor and director agreed that it had brought the film some good publicity. They were also happy to provide the internet a laugh when it needed it most.

“At the end of the day, it seems that bucket brought a lot of laughter and joy,” Villeneuve reasoned, “which I think is—”

“Something we need more of,” Chalamet interjected. “[But] you were not personally involved in the design process,” he assured Villeneuve.

“I thought you were!” the director joked to Chalamet, to which the star responded: “My idea!”

Dune: Part Two arrives in cinemas on March 1.