Austin Butler is currently navigating a demanding schedule, balancing his roles in “The Bikeriders” and “Dune: Part Two.” The 32-year-old actor portrays Benny in “The Bikeriders,” a film centered around a Chicago motorcycle club. Simultaneously, he takes on the role of the antagonist Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in Denis Villeneuve’s highly anticipated sci-fi sequel.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Butler shared the complexities of managing both projects. “That was the tricky part to figure out,” he said. “I knew I was going to do both films before I started ‘Dune,’ but I had to figure out how to front-load the prep on ‘Bikeriders’ and start training on a motorcycle.”
Butler had to juggle motorcycle training for “The Bikeriders” while also preparing for the intense knife training required for his role in “Dune: Part Two.” “I was getting used to those old motorcycles as I was doing the knife training and stuff for ‘Dune,'” he explained. “Then I put ‘Bikeriders’ on hold for a bit as I got closer to ‘Dune.'”
The actor’s schedule was meticulously planned to accommodate both films. “I got really invested in ‘Dune,’ and then my schedule allowed me to come back to the States for two weeks between blocks,” Butler said. “I shot for a month, had two weeks off, then shot ‘Dune’ for another month, and had two weeks off again. During those breaks, I did motorcycle training and then went back to ‘Dune.'”
Butler’s commitment to both roles required a significant amount of preparation and imagination, especially for “The Bikeriders.” The film is based on a 1967 photo-book by Danny Lyon, but Butler’s character, Benny, is scarcely featured in the material. “There’s all these interviews in the book with most of the other characters, but Benny was never interviewed, and his face also wasn’t photographed,” Butler noted. “You only ever see from behind or the top of his head as he’s leaning over a pool table. So it was a lot of time and imagination in figuring out what makes him tick.”
In addition to Butler, “Dune: Part Two” boasts an impressive cast, including newcomers Florence Pugh, Léa Seydoux, and Christopher Walken. Tim Blake Nelson has also joined the ensemble, adding to the star-studded lineup. The sequel continues the story of Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet, as he teams up with the desert-dwelling Fremen to liberate the planet of Arrakis from the oppressive House Harkonnen.
“Dune: Part Two” is set for release on November 3. The first installment, which premiered in October 2021, was a massive success, grossing $400.6 million worldwide and earning 10 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. It won six Oscars, solidifying its place as a cinematic triumph.
Denis Villeneuve returns to direct the sequel, working from a script he co-wrote with Jon Spaihts. The film is produced by Mary Parent, Villeneuve, Cale Boyter, Tanya Lapointe, and Patrick McCormick.
Tim Blake Nelson, who recently appeared in Guillermo del Toro’s Netflix series “Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities” and voiced a character in “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,” joins the “Dune” cast in an undisclosed role. Nelson’s addition to the cast adds another layer of intrigue to the already highly anticipated film.
As Butler continues to juggle his roles in “The Bikeriders” and “Dune: Part Two,” fans eagerly await the release of both films. His dedication to his craft and ability to balance such demanding projects is a testament to his talent and work ethic.
