“It was 7 too many times!”: Timothée Chalamet Went Way Overboard With His ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Obsession
During a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to promote the upcoming Dune: Part Two, rising star Timothée Chalamet sheepishly admitted to host Jimmy Kimmel that he had seen 2022’s blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick in theaters 12 times. A stunned Kimmel replied that it seemed like “seven too many times.”
Chalamet explained that he was obsessed with Top Gun: Maverick while filming Dune’s sequel in Budapest, so he rented out a movie theater and treated the entire cast and crew to a screening of Maverick.
How Did Timothée Chalamet React to Top Gun: Maverick?
When Jimmy Kimmel questioned if 12 viewings weren’t excessive, Timothée Chalamet defended his Top Gun: Maverick repeats as inspiring.
“For me, it was my 12th time or something,” Chalamet said with a nervous laugh. “I don’t think it made [Tom Cruise] nervous, but I was so inspired because I just loved that,” he said.
“A feel-good movie, but it was so shamelessly about what it was about, and this Dune is more action-packed. It was inspiring; it made me want to be more like that.”
Chalamet had previously told GQ that Top Gun: Maverick was “hugely inspiring” while making Dune. He bought out a theater in Budapest to share it with the crew, even though some were “scoffing at going.” Clearly, multiple cast and crew screenings contributed to his 12 total Maverick viewings.
Did Timothée Chalamet Meet Tom Cruise?
According to Chalamet, he did meet Maverick star Tom Cruise after finishing the first Dune film and told him about being inspired to step up his stunt training for the sequel.
Cruise also sent Chalamet an encouraging email urging today’s actors not to rely on outdated studio systems for dance and fight training. Instead, performers must take action themselves now.
“I was impressed by his level of discipline, He was the first one on set, always ready,” Denis Villeneuve remarked.
Dune director Villeneuve agreed Chalamet took Cruise’s advice to heart, training intensely for Part Two’s fight scenes.
Also Read: Dune Wipes Out Oscars, With 10 Oscar Nominations, Including Best Picture
When Can Fans See Timothée Chalamet in Dune: Part Two?
Thanks to the motivation of Top Gun: Maverick and meeting Tom Cruise, Chalamet brought new acting maturity to his lead role in Dune’s sequel according to Villeneuve.
The director says Chalamet evolves on screen “from the boy to the man, and becomes a leader, and even, I will say a dark charismatic, messianic figure.”
Fans can witness Timothée Chalamet’s dedication to themselves when Dune: Part Two opens in theaters on November 3, 2023. The epic sci-fi saga sees Chalamet joined by returning co-stars like Zendaya and new additions Florence Pugh and Austin Butler.
Also Read: Dune 2: Every New Character That Must Be Introduced In The New Movie
If the sequel is half as inspiring as Top Gun: Maverick apparently was to Timothée Chalamet, Dune is sure to produce another box-office hit.
Dune: Part Two officially opens in theaters on March 1.
