Zendaya recently opened up about the unexpected challenges she faced while filming Dune: Part Two in the desert, particularly the difficulties of wearing the iconic Fremen stillsuit and dealing with the extreme conditions of Jordan’s desert landscape. The actress, who plays Chani, shared with W Magazine how the intense heat and remote filming locations made certain aspects of filming unexpectedly tough.
One of the biggest struggles for Zendaya was managing her time in the stillsuit when nature called. She recalled, “It was very hot, and I remember thinking, ‘Oh, man, the bathrooms are so far away,’ because we had to hike to the locations.” With the suits being cumbersome, she had to plan carefully, as it took at least 10 minutes to get out of them. Zendaya humorously shared that she didn’t want to drink too much water to avoid the trek to the bathroom, but this decision ended up backfiring. She later admitted that by not drinking enough water, she suffered from heatstroke. She remembered calling her mom from the bathroom floor, feeling terrible, only for her mom to ask if she had been drinking enough water that day. Zendaya realized that she had made a serious mistake by not staying hydrated.
Director Denis Villeneuve also weighed in on the tough conditions, explaining that the heat could quickly exhaust the cast and crew. He mentioned that the wind was strong and the heat was so intense that it felt like it was turning their brains to “soup,” highlighting just how taxing the environment was on everyone involved.
On a positive note, Zendaya was in good physical shape before filming started, thanks to her role in Challengers, a tennis drama she had just finished. She said the physical demands of that role helped her maintain muscle tone and fitness, which made handling the desert conditions a bit easier. “I got some good calf definition going, firing off the glutes,” she joked, noting that it helped her navigate the physical demands of Dune: Part Two.
Zendaya’s experience mirrors that of other actors who take on physically demanding roles, such as Doug Jones, known for his role in The Shape of Water. Jones has often spoken about the challenges of wearing complex costumes for long hours, mentioning that actors need to be mindful of their bodily needs before donning the suit, as they could be trapped in it for 16-17 hours a day.
Despite the hardships, Zendaya’s perseverance in the harsh conditions is a testament to her dedication to her craft and the tough environments actors sometimes endure to bring their roles to life.