'Dune 2' Actor Heartbroken To Be Cut From Movie in Deleted Scenes

Dune: Part Twohas opened to rave reviews in theatres, with its ensemble cast widely praised for tremendous performances across the board. And while the movie carries the kind of cast a director likeDenis Villeneuvedreams of, even a film with this scope and budget still has to cut actors from the finished product sometimes, for the good of the bigger picture. One such unlucky individual wasTim Blake Nelson, who found himself left on the cutting room floor when the final movie was released.

Online speculation had suggested that Nelson might be playing the role of Count Hasimir Fenring, a character who serves as both an assassin and a counselor to Emperor Shaddam (portrayed byChristopher Walken) and is the husband of Lady Margot Fenring, a member of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood (played byLéa Seydoux). The character does later gain further prominence in the follow-up,Dune Messiah, which Villeneuve intends to direct, so Nelson may get to return to the role, but for now, his sadness over missing out was palpable, ashe told MovieWeb.

Denis Villeneuve showing Javier Bardem & Josh Brolin something on a laptop in the desert for Dune: Part Two

“I don’t think I’m at liberty to say what the scene was," said Nelson. “I’d leave that to Denis if he wants to talk about it. I had a great time over there shooting it. And then he had to cut it because he thought the movie was too long. And I am heartbroken over that, but there’s no hard feelings. I loved it, and I can’t wait to do something else with him, and we certainly plan to do that.”

Why Does Denis Villeneuve Not Release Deleted Scenes?

Speaking with Collider’sSteve Weintraubprior to the release of the film, Villeneuve admitted that, as much as it pains him to cut scenes or shots from a film that has seen such good work go into them, it’s necessary for the good of the overall picture, as Nelson, sadly, would find out to his cost. Villeneuve explained:

“I’m a strong believer that when it’s not in the movie, it’s dead. Sometimes I remove shots and I say, ‘I cannot believe I’m cutting this out. I feel like a samurai opening my gut. It’s painful, so I cannot go back after that and create a Frankenstein and try to reanimate things that I killed. It’s too painful. When it’s dead, it’s dead, and it’s dead for a reason. But yes, it is a painful project, but it is my job. The movie prevails. I’m very severe in the editing room. I’m not thinking about my ego, I’m thinking about the movie …. I kill darlings, and it’s painful for me.”