The latest on the Venice Film Festival

‘Dune’ is a dream for Villeneuve, Chalamet, sequel or no

VENICE, Italy: Denis Villeneuve’s adaption of Frank Herbert’s Dune was always envisioned as two films. But even if the sequel is uncertain, it’s already been a “dream” for the director and Timothée Chalamet.

“This was the honor of a lifetime for me,” Chalamet said at the Venice Film Festival. “I hope we get to do a second one. It would be a dream…[but] it’s already been a dream come true.”

“Dune” is a tale of a duke and intergalactic power struggles.

Chalamet plays young hero Paul Atreides, who is groomed to lead the planet Arrakis, home to the universe’s most valuable resource.

Kristen Stewart gains perspective on fame playing Diana

VENICE, Italy: Kristen Stewart chafed at how “Twilight” robbed her of privacy and a normal life, but it’s nothing compared to what Princess Diana endured.

Stewart gained that perspective filming Pablo Larrain’s “Spencer,” which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. It focuses on the Christmas holiday before Diana’s formal separation from Prince Charles.

“I think the really sad thing about her is that she – as normal, casual, and disarming her air is – also felt so isolated and lonely,” Stewart said. “She made everyone else feel accompanied and bolstered by this beautiful light, and all she wanted was to have it back.”

Jimmy Page at Venice film fest to present Led Zeppelin doc

VENICE, Italy: Guitarist Jimmy Page he turned down a lot of “pretty miserable” pitches to make a Led Zeppelin documentary. He finally bit when he received a deeply researched proposal focusing almost exclusively on the music and chronicling the band’s birth and meteoric rise.

“Becoming Led Zeppelin,” is one of the most anticipated documentaries at the Venice Film Festival, which premiered with Page on the red carpet.

The film presents interviews with just the band members, never-before-seen footage, concerts, and other archive material.

Page said he particularly appreciated the focus on the music – the songs are played at full-length, not just snippets.