Timoth?e Chalamet in Yeouido, Seochon, and Apgujeong... "No country welcomes me like Korea"

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"Korea is a country that passionately loves movies. I am glad to feel the rich Korean history." (Timoth?e Chalamet)

"Korean films are among the best in the world. Korean audiences love the experience of sitting in a dark theater and immersing themselves in a vast world, and thanks to this, the 'Dune' universe feels real, which probably gave rise to the 'Dunechinza' phenomenon." (Austin Butler)

Timoth?e Chalamet [Photo by Yonhap News]

Timoth?e Chalamet (28), considered Hollywood's top 'youth actor,' has come to Korea. It has been five years since he first visited Korea for the 2019 Busan International Film Festival, and now he has returned with the movie Dune: Part 2 (hereafter 'Dune 2'). The barbecue restaurants, cafes, and multi-shops he visited in Yeouido, Seochon, and Apgujeong in Seoul have also attracted attention, and every move of Chalamet is becoming a hot topic. His momentum is strong. The movie Wonka, starring Chalamet, was released on January 31, just before the Lunar New Year holiday, and succeeded at the box office by holding the number one spot with a cumulative audience of 2.58 million. He is considered a driving force behind its popularity. The movie Dune 2, also starring him, will be released in theaters on the 28th.

At a press conference held on the afternoon of the 21st at Conrad Seoul in Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Chalamet humorously greeted, "The chocolate man who used to sell chocolates suddenly does something in space; I wonder if Korean audiences might be confused." He said, "Thank you for welcoming me from King: Henry V, Wonka, to Dune. There is no country that welcomes me as warmly as Korea."

Timoth?e Chalamet [Photo by Yonhap News]

He debuted at age 18 with the film Spencer (2013) and gained attention with Interstellar (2014). Since then, he has appeared in Call Me by Your Name (2018), Little Women (2020), Don’t Look Up (2021), and Bones and All (2022), gaining popularity.

The upcoming Dune 2 (directed by Denis Villeneuve) is an action blockbuster about Paul (Timoth?e Chalamet), who realizes his abilities and awakens, embarking on a journey of revenge to find his destiny as a warrior. The previous film Dune (2021) was released during the COVID-19 pandemic and earned over $400 million (about 534 billion KRW). It attracted 1.64 million viewers domestically, sparking the 'Dunechinza' craze. Chalamet reprises his lead role. He said, "I am happy to be part of Villeneuve’s amazing cinematic journey. I am grateful to have been cast as Paul. I restrained myself while exploring Paul’s character and also gained ideas."

Dune 2 focuses on Paul realizing his destiny, becoming a messiah himself, leading a rebellion, and ascending to the emperor’s throne. Chalamet said, "Before filming, I read the entire original novel. Author Herbert was cautious about portraying Paul as a hero. Paul is more ethical than 'Feyd-Rautha' (played by Austin Butler), but at the same time, Paul wants to be recognized. I saw that he also has dark times and violent aspects."

Austin Butler [Photo by Yonhap News]

Austin Butler, considered Hollywood’s top 'hot guy,' also stars in Dune 2. He plays 'Feyd-Rautha,' the heir of House Harkonnen and a ruthless assassin tasked with eliminating Paul (Timoth?e Chalamet). He gained attention for roles in Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019), The Dead Don’t Die (2019), and notably for portraying Elvis Presley in Elvis (2022).

Visiting Korea for the first time with Dune 2, he said, "I arrived on the same flight as Timoth?e, and Korean fans warmly welcomed us at the airport. I received drawings and letters made by fans. I was happy and grateful." He added, "I gained weight for the role and underwent intense action training. The first shoot in Budapest was a fight scene with Timoth?e. That became the foundation for building my character." Chalamet responded, "Austin brought life to the film and gave me tremendous inspiration."

After the press conference, Chalamet filmed content related to Dune 2 with EBS’s popular character Pengsoo. On that day, Pengsoo, dressed as 'Paul,' made a surprise appearance at the press conference, attracting attention from the domestic media. Timoth?e will also appear on the tvN variety show You Quiz on the Block. On the 22nd, he will attend the red carpet event with director Denis Villeneuve and actress Zendaya.