Timothée Chalamet Breaks Down That Iconic ‘Dune Part Two’ Speech

He may not love it, but Timothée Chalamet is proud when people scream “Lisan al-Gaib!†to him on the streets. It’s a reference to Dune: Part Two, where Chalamet’s character, Paul Atreides, rises to power and fulfills his destiny as the godlike figure in the life of the Fremen. After the film’s release, calling Chalamet “Lisan al-Gaib!†basically became a meme, but that wouldn’t have happened if one crucial scene hadn’t come together perfectly.

Just four days removed from completing principal photography on next year’s Dune: Part Three, Chalamet joined fellow actor Adam Sandler in Los Angeles to discuss their careers, and io9 was in attendance, courtesy of Netflix. The duo watched clips from each other’s careers, including Paul’s unforgettable speech from the end of Dune: Part Two. Here it is as a reminder.

“That was a hell of a thing to memorize,†Chalamet began. “You’re memorizing something in a made-up language, so I’m always very proud of that. And Denis [Villeneuve, director] had me memorize it in English too. So there are verses to that that are normal spoken word, but that sequence I’m so proud of.â€

“I basically wrapped filming Part Three four days ago,†Chalamet continued. “It’s moving to me that something as out there as Dune, I’m talking about the themes, even, in the book, and what a psychedelic story it is, has taken this personal resonance on for me. I’m even tearing up a bit watching that because I’ve just finished four days ago. I’ve grown up through those movies.â€

Coming off two smaller films in A Complete Unknown and this year’s Marty Supreme, Chalamet then contrasted that work with work on the mega franchise. “Dune, by nature of how huge the production is, you can have two days or three days where there’s not much demanded of you, so I always circled that scene,†the actor said. “I was like, ‘Okay, this is my shot,’ and I wanted to prove to Denis and myself, besides doing a speech in a made-up language in front of 800 people or whatever, that I can own it. And I’m so proud of that. I remember even calling a good friend of mine the night we shot that and saying ‘Man, that went fucking awesome.’ So that was awesome. Words don’t do it justice.â€

“And also, it was satisfying, because the first film didn’t have, for Paul Atreides, that climactic moment,†Chalamet continued. “So it felt like I was building to that for years. And now, you know, I’m on the streets, and people go, “Lisan al-Gaib!†which is more humiliating than it sounds.â€

Chalamet’s new film, Marty Supreme, is out on Christmas Day. Then, next Christmas, Paul’s journey comes to a close in Dune: Part Three, which is currently scheduled for release on December 18, 2026.

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