MovieChat Forums > Dune: Part One (2021) Discussion > They couldn't find a teenager to play Pa...

They couldn't find a teenager to play Paul? Again?

posted 5 years ago by Ranb (10344)
21 replies | jump to latest

The book makes it clear that Paul is a 14 year old boy who is small for his age. Both prior films/TV shows screwed up when they used adults to play a young boy. Kyle MacLachlan and Alec Newman were poorly cast as Paul.

In the book after Paul and Jessica are given sanctuary with the Fremen, the story jumps ahead several years. Paul is nearly an adult and has a child with Chani by this time. This is a perfect time to switch over to a more mature actor.

[–] Joogle83 (4521) 5 years ago

Timothee Chalamet is a talent he is perfect for Paul he has been the casting choice for Paul its closer to book The film will be in 2 Parts dude he is 24 and he looks 14 he is an Oscar Nominated talent Stop it

[–] papamihel (1616) 4 years ago

Agree. The guy also seem to be very intelligent and poised. It's like he was born for this role.

[–] TrentnQuarantino (9382) 3 years ago

Stop it - defending this crappy movie.
Why are you always telling people to stop it.
Who made you the internet cop?
TC really has no aristocratic look to him, no royal bearing.
Even Oscar Isaac was not a great Leto, but at least he tried.
The effects were hokey and the city and buildings huge, with no detail and stupid looking.
You don't have standing to express any opinion on this bad movie.

[–] Otter (24464) 5 years ago

There are problems with hiring actual teenagers. Actors under a certain age have legal limitations on how many hours in a day they can work, they have less training and experience than adults, they bring stage parents onto the set, and they're prone to growing when it's inconvenient for the production. Etc.

That's why Hollywood prefers to cast twenty-somethings to play high schoolers all around, adults who look like teenagers are much less trouble than actual teenagers.

[–] Ranb (10344) 5 years ago

I agree about the problem with child actors. I still think that at 5"10" and 24 years old, Timothee Chalamet is not a good actor to play Paul. I do hope they make a good movie though.

[–] Otter (24464) 5 years ago

Well, the real problem is casting the best possible actor, within the physical limits of the character description. And since this guy has an Oscar nom, I have to assume that he's about the best teen-ish actor they could find. Certainly I can't think of a better "name" actor, one who has proven he can carry a lead in a film or TV show (whatever this mess is).

No, the real problem with a guy like this is not passing for a teen, which he does every day all day, but when the character has to grow up and present as an impressive adult male! Chalemet will never do that as long as he lives, at least, not without a hell of a lot of steroids.

[–] TheAdlerian (2092) 5 years ago

It would fail badly.

Most children can't act in these kind of roles because they have no life experience, they have never been horribly sad, angry, or in a very bad situation.

So, you get the Star Wars thing where Anakin is supposed to be a young Hitler. The actor has no idea what it feels like to be young Hitler and then sounds wooden.

I hate when they change stories but in this case you must unless you have some kid who is an insightful genius.

[–] Longrain (37) 5 years ago

People don't like to critique a kid actor, but if you look at most of them they're pretty bad. Only a few ever were actually good. A character like Paul, a charismatic leader, would require a lot of skill to pull off that kids just don't have.

[–] Ranb (10344) 4 years ago

After watching the trailer, I've decided that Chalamet might do a good job. :)

[–] TrentnQuarantino (9382) 3 years ago

[–] Jes' Sayin' (6469) 3 years ago

Chalamet looks too young, if anything. He looks too young to be able to accomplish everything the character actually does.

[–] Costumer (1829) 3 years ago

Since Paul is about 15 years old, I'm not sure how you can say Chalamet looks too young. You may not like that Paul is that young, but that is the story.

[–] Jes' Sayin' (6469) 3 years ago

You see the size of the guy he had to fight?

[–] Costumer (1829) 3 years ago

And how is that relevant? Paul is 15. Saying a 24 year old doesn't look old enough is ridiculous.

[–] Jes' Sayin' (6469) 3 years ago

It greatly strains believability.

The reason why Paul is 15 in the novel isn't really a good one. It's because Herbert believed or someone like a publisher told him that the primary buyers of his book would be teenaged nerdy boys. Therefore, he becomes 15. But besides being labeled such, he is hardly 15. We don't hear anything about his voice having recently changed or other youthful pains or anxieties. In terms of his maturity level, mentally, physically and emotionally, he is 21, or even more.

[–] Costumer (1829) 3 years ago

I'm sorry you are incapable of understanding. Herbert was a seasoned writer. Paul is a royal. In history royals often started doing "adult" things as adolescents. The concept that adulthood begins at 18 is a modern construct. The son of a Duke is going to be in training for taking over his father's demesne. The film shows you he has been trained to fight and fight in a lethal manner. He would be expected to act maturely.

[–] Jes' Sayin' (6469) 3 years ago

So you completely ignore the points and just reiterate "you're wrong". Quite a convincing assertion, completely missing supporting argument.

Certainly no need to waste any more time here.

[–] Costumer (1829) 3 years ago

You might read. I addressed your points. You say he is too young to do what he does. I say royals of that age are expected to, and have, performed adult tasks and done them well. I pretty much have history on my side of this.

[–] Ranb (10344) 3 years ago

We are expected to believe that a 24 year old actor is supposed to be believable playing a 15 year old boy who is small for his age and already an expert in armed and unarmed combat and being trained to lead soldiers.

While the book and film require a fair amount of suspension of disbelief just for the nature of the science fiction aspects, Paul's age is the least of them.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

He looks the part. I've certainly seen less convincing actors trying to look like teenagers. Most of the cast of that old soap opera 90210, for example.

[–] mitzibishi (1968) 3 years ago

Timothy Chalumets balls haven't dropped yet so I think he still qualifies.

Hopefully his balls, voice don't drop till after the sequel, he doesn't decide to rebel, get swole and hit the nightclubs until then.

I'm not predicting a Chalamet boxing movie until after the next Dune.