‘Dune’ Trilogy Marathon Scheduled for December 18 at Le Grand Rex in Paris

voice film logo squareArthur S. Poe
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Le Grand Rex in Paris is renowned for transforming movie viewing into a grand occasion. Opened on December 8, 1932, this iconic theater boasts the largest single-screen auditorium in Europe, seating 2,702 guests. It has welcomed cinematic legends for decades, including a special preview of ‘Dune’ in 2021, which attracted over 2,700 fans and featured director Denis Villeneuve along with stars Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, and Zendaya.

The theater is also home to the impressive Le Grand Large screen, which was inaugurated in 1988 with Luc Besson’s ‘The Big Blue.’ Measuring around 300 square meters, it is the largest screen outside of IMAX in Europe. A subsequent screening of ‘Dune’ on this massive screen in 2021 drew another 1,720 attendees, demonstrating the franchise’s perfect fit for such a venue.

Now, Le Grand Rex is set to host its first ‘Dune’ marathon, featuring a trilogy screening on December 18, coinciding with the North American release of ‘Dune: Part Three.’ Ticket presales will begin this Friday, October 23.

The marathon will kick off at 8:45 p.m. with the original ‘Dune,’ concluding at 11:31 p.m. ‘Dune: Part Two’ will follow at midnight, running until 2:46 a.m., and ‘Dune: Part Three’ will start at 3:15 a.m., wrapping up at 5:40 a.m. This totals nearly 8 hours of cinematic experience, extending into the early morning.

All three films will be screened in their original language with French subtitles on Le Grand Large. Balcony seating will be available on a free placement basis, ensuring that the focus remains on the enormous screen, a fitting choice for a narrative centered on vast deserts and epic sandworm encounters.

Tickets for the marathon are priced at 35 euros, with a VIP option available for 100 euros, following the same screening schedule. The theater will also provide snack menus, with a basic option at 19 euros and a larger one at 27 euros, though these do not include a ticket to the screenings.

The snack menu features a premium sandwich with a playful ‘Dune’ pun, highlighting the event’s fun side. This marathon coincides with the North American premiere, allowing French fans to experience the entire saga in one sitting.

This marathon aligns with the broader strategy for the film’s release. Warner Bros. has implemented staggered ticket sales for ‘Dune: Part Three,’ with IMAX 70mm seats selling out rapidly and website queues lasting for hours. The film was primarily shot on 65mm film, with some sequences captured on 15/70mm IMAX film, making it ideal for premium large-format screenings.

In France, ‘Dune: Part Three’ is set to open on December 16, just two days before the marathon, with Le Grand Rex also planning early screenings starting December 15. This allows eager viewers to catch the finale before revisiting the earlier films in a marathon setting.

Villeneuve has mentioned that the first two films tell a single story divided into two parts, while ‘Dune: Part Three’ adapts ‘Dune Messiah’ and takes place nearly two decades later. The marathon offers a unique opportunity to experience this narrative leap in one continuous viewing, transitioning from Paul Atreides’ rise to the complexities of his reign.

The Grand Rex is well-known for turning movie screenings into memorable events, having hosted a yearly holiday water-and-light show. The ‘Dune’ marathon will add another highlight to its calendar.

With presales launching on Friday, demand is expected to be high, especially given how quickly premium ‘Dune’ tickets have sold out elsewhere. For those unable to attend in Paris, this event serves as a reminder of how the franchise is best experienced together on a grand screen.

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