Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve was hard-pressed to get to the bottom of the movie’s tie-in popcorn bucket. Dune: Part Two is tempting moviegoers with a popcorn bucket shaped like the film’s iconic sandworms. Regrettably, this unique design sparked numerous NSFW comparisons, causing it to go viral amidst substantial criticism on social platforms.
“I don’t want to make stupid jokes right now that will I regret tomorrow morning,” Villeneuve told the New York Times. “But I will say this. When I saw it, I went, ‘Hoooooly smokes.’ What the f–k!? At the same time, it created a lot of fun online. So maybe it’s positive? It’s some kind of… impressive design.”
Timothee Chalamet, portraying Paul Atreides in the sequel, also shared his thoughts on the Dune 2 popcorn bucket. “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 joked.
Deep Inside the Allure of ‘Dune 2’s Viral Popcorn Bucket
Undoubtedly, the design of the Dune: Part Two popcorn bucket is quite unique. The lid is crafted to mimic the open jaws of a sandworm from the film. However, some have pointed out its resemblance to… something else. Something familiar, that some fans can’t quite put their finger on, but lingers at the bottom of their psyche.
To enjoy their popcorn, movie lovers have to plunge their hands into the sandworm’s gaping hole, maneuvering through its rubbery teeth. This unique concept has garnered significant attention, even inspiring a recent parody on Saturday Night Live.
Additional actors from Dune: Part Two have shared their thoughts on the well-known popcorn bucket. During an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Zendaya, a star from the franchise, declined to try out the bucket when it was presented on the show. “I’m good, I’m okay,” she said when offered a chance to stick her hand in the sandworm’s hole.
However, castmate Chalamet had no problem offering himself up to the infamous popcorn bucket chasm. He playfully dipped his hand into the bucket, pretending the sandworm was nibbling his arm.
Meanwhile, Florence Pugh expressed strong criticism of the popcorn bucket’s design, stating that it was unacceptable for such a product to be launched. “That’s not okay,” a horrified Pugh blurted. “Who made that? That’s not okay. That’s wrong.”