Dune’s Parasol Scene Has A Heartwarming Backstory
Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” left a lot of questions unanswered, but fans of the film got the answers they were looking for when a sequel for Paul Atreides’ (Timothée Chalamet) exploits on Arrakis was announced. This was fantastic news for anyone who enjoys both big science fiction stories and visual feasts. After all, Villeneuve’s films are immensely stylish affairs, from “Arrival” to “Blade Runner 2049,” and the filmmaker uses every bit of his distinct artistic style to bring the equally unusual sights of “Dune” to life.
As a result, it’s tempting to think that everything you see in the film has been meticulously prepared, making things like Thufir Hafat’s (Stephen McKinley Henderson) parasol all the more amusing. In a film that is known for its sleek, dark uniforms, desert clothing, and exotic alien clothes, the Mentat of House Atreides is seen holding a whimsical, small parasol to keep cool in the blistering desert heat. Now, the actor has revealed the origins of what may be the film’s most eye-catching accessory. Here’s the touching backstory to “Dune’s” parasol scene.
Even a tightly regulated big-budget film like “Dune” has room for the occasional unplanned detail, and the parasol was one of those lovely things that ended up in the scene on the fly. Stephen McKinley Henderson revealed the true tale behind the parasol in an interview with Vulture. “We were shooting on a scorching hot day,” he explained. “I was sitting in the sun, off to the side. There is no shade since there is nothing around. Someone may have simply offered [the parasol] to me, not to be a part of the drama, but to protect me. Denis, on the other hand, adored it. ‘Ah, you like this?’ he asked as he walked over. ‘Yeah, I like it,’ I said. ‘Well, I suppose Thufir can have this,’ he remarked. ‘I’d love to do that; that’s fantastic,’ I answered.”
A simple, small parasol became a lovely part of one of the year’s biggest films in this unassuming manner. Furthermore, Henderson believed that this small addition had become an inextricable element of Thufir’s personality. “It just says so much about where he is at the time and that he’s taking care of himself,” the actor said. “He was a young man once. It was one of those wonderful spontaneous things.”