Zendaya Eyed To Star As Timothée Chalamet’s Love Interest In ‘Dune’ From Denis Villeneuve

Yesterday, we reported that Oscar Isaac was on the verge of closing a deal that would put him as one of the stars of the upcoming “Dune” adaptation, directed by Denis Villeneuve. It was revealed that he would play the father to Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides. And if this new report is to be believed, we now know who the potential love interest for Chalamet’s character will be – Zendaya.

According to Collider, the “Spider-Man: Homecoming” actress Zendaya is being eyed to play Chani, the object of Paul’s affection. While her role will be a little bit limited in the first film, the actress is expected to have a much larger part in the sequel, which Villeneuve is also developing. That is, if the first film does enough business to warrant a sequel.

READ MORE: Academy Award-Winning DP Roger Deakins Will Not Team With Denis Villeneuve On ‘Dune’

For those not familiar with Frank Herbert’s novel, “Dune” follows the life of Paul Atreides, as he grows up on the planet Arrakis, as a member of the world’s noble family. With Arrakis being the only location in the universe with the precious commodity, “spice,” rival noble families attempt to stake their claim to the planet, leading to tons of political intrigue.

Zendaya is probably best known for her roles in the two ‘Spider-Man’ films, the aforementioned ‘Homecoming’ and the upcoming ‘Far From Home.’ However, her star has steadily been on the rise in recent years, with roles in the film “The Greatest Showman” and the upcoming HBO series “Euphoria,” from the filmmaker behind “Assassination Nation.”

READ MORE: Timothée Chalamet On Chomping At The Bit For ‘Dune’ And The Honesty Of ‘Beautiful Boy’ [Interview]

If she signs on, the actress would join the already-stacked cast that includes Rebecca Ferguson, Charlotte Rampling, Dave Bautista, and Stellan Skarsgård. And Villeneuve is co-writing this film along with his collaborators Eric Roth and Jon Spaihts.

Production is supposed to begin sometime later in the year, with a 2020 release being the most likely scenario. But with the heavy amounts of special effects, and Villeneuve’s eye for detail, depending on when filming begins, we could be looking at a 2021 release.