The long-awaited sequel to Dune is finally arriving in theaters on March 1.
A coffee table book chronicling a behind-the-scenes look at the sequel to the two-part film adaptation of the eponymous 1965 novel series by Frank Herbert was published to commemorate the occasion.
Titled Dune: Exposures, the book documents the making of Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two with contributions by cinematographer Greig Fraser and one of the films' stars, Josh Brolin, who plays weapons master of House Atreides, Gurney Halleck.
The 56-year-old MCU actor contributed reactions, sometimes in the form of poetry, to his experiences working on the film, his friendship with Fraser, and Fraser's photography to accompany the stunning images featured in the book.
But one of his passages that turned heads was his provocative ode to co-star Timothée Chalamet, who portrayed the ducal heir of House Atreides, Paul Astreides, in the films.
Alongside a black and white photo of Chalamet was a poem written by Brolin, who mused of his friend and oft-idolized movie heartthrob.
It read:
"Your face is etched by adolescence."
"Your cheekbones jump toward what are youth-laden eyes that slide down a prominent nose and onto lips of a certain poetry."
"And the way you hold my gaze makes me fear my own age."
"Because something in me tells me you are going to offer me something."
"And for now, I’m not sure it’s going to be something I want anymore."
His poem caused fans to raise their eyebrows.
Some sensed homoerotic tension.
Jokesters contributed interpretations of his pensive adulation of the 28-year-old Oscar nominee.
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The more mature users gave Brolin props for his reflective take on coming of age.
Whatever his intentions, good on him.
Brolin's collaboration with Fraser on Dune: Exposures was the result of their close bond forged during production.
Said Fraser of Brolin's way with words:
"He’s a beautiful writer. I was reading it after coming home from work and talking to him about those words the next day, and it became fun to discuss his process and his writing."
"His words created incredible images in my mind for just colors, shapes and ideas in my mind.”
Fraser continued to elaborate on the juxtaposition of his photography with Brolin's musings, saying:
“When I read those words next to one of those images, it grows, it makes something more than what those images are by themselves."
"And when there are words by themselves with no images, then it allows the next image to have context.”
Brolin reflected on his contributions to the 172-page book.
“I’ve been writing this book, and there are 95,000 words that I’m cutting down into something edible," he said, adding:
“I love haikus."
He shared with Variety an example of a passage he wrote for Dune: Exposures.
It read:
"Lie down in the light, as fictional characters watch you from afar."
Brolin explained:
"I love that because it’s pointing out the fact that this is not real, but there’s nothing more real."
"The light is real, lying down is real, the sand is real, the experience is real, and yet, it’s this great contrasting thing."
The $60 tome serves as a companion piece to executive producer Tanya Lapointe’s visual book The Art and Soul of Dune and its sequel The Art and Soul of Dune: Part Two.
Dune: Exposures additionally comes in three Fine Art Series limited edition versions for three of the film's stars featuring Brolin, Chalamet, and Zendaya.
Each limited edition volume sells for $1,250.00 while supplies last. (The volume featuring Chalamet has sold out.)
According to the Insights website where the books are sold, each of the three volumes will include a limited-edition, "museum-quality print of the actor and a signed original poem by Josh Brolin numbered 1 to 175."
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