Did Timothée Chalamet Shave His Head For Dune 3? What That Would Mean

Timothée Chalamet has debuted a new haircut, shredding his usual flowing brown locks for a shaved head, prompting more questions about if this was a personal decision or one made for Dune: Part Three. The third entry in Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic is currently in production, and there’s been speculation about Chalamet’s appearance for it since filming began earlier this year.

The actor has refrained from directly confirming any changes to his appearance for the film, always wearing a hat in public. With Marty Supreme‘s promotion kicking off, the rising star has officially debuted his shaved head on social media.

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While the reveal comes in a Marty Supreme video, this isn’t a look he has in the upcoming sports biopic. So, was this done for Dune 3 after all?

Timothée Chalamet’s New Haircut Was Done When Dune 3 Started Filming

Paul Atreides standing among the Fremen with his hood up in Dune Part Two

The first suggestion that Chalamet cut his recognizable hair came around the time that Dune 3 started filming in July. This didn’t come through set pH๏τos, but rather paparazzi pics of him and his girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, on vacation.

The timing of the change in his appearance suggested that this was a move done for the Dune threequel. But it has never been confirmed that this was the case, and there have not been any set pH๏τos or official images from the film showcasing Chalamet playing Paul with this new hairdo.

With him now confirming the shaved head look, all signs point to this being a change made for Dune 3. That signals a big change for the movie and Chalamet’s portrayal of Lisan al Gaib after ascending to Emperor of the known universe.

Paul Atreides Having A Shaved Head Could Be A Big Deal For Dune 3

Paul Atreides played by actor Timothée Chalamet looking at the Fremen as he gives his speech in Dune 2

The idea of Paul shaving his head and sporting a buzz cut in Dune 3 is notable on a few levels. Audiences are used to seeing Chalamet’s character with the longer hair, so changing his look in such a way could be jarring to some.

Paul’s longer hair is also more in line with how many leaders/rulers have looked in the Dune movies. Leto Atreides and Emperor Shaddam IV had longer hair, and that type of flowing mane feels more regal in some way. It would have made sense for Paul to follow in his father’s and father-in-law’s footsteps and keep his hair.

So why the change? The easy ᴀssumption would be that this is a case of Villeneuve utilizing the source material and having Paul look like how Frank Herbert described him in Dune Messiah. However, the author never wrote anything about Paul being bald after he became Emperor.

One possible explanation for the change is that Villeneuve wanted to increase the parallels between Paul and the Harkonnen family he now knows he’s part of. The Harkonnens are known for their signature bald appearance, so Paul shaving his head could be a way to visually remind people that he’s an Atreides and a Harkonnen.

Paul embracing that side of his lineage would be a pivotal development. More directly bringing some of the Harkonnen’s ruthlessness to his reign could really help define what type of Emperor he is and explain the state of the galaxy when Dune 3 begins.

Then again, the switch could be slightly less significant. It could be a reflection of the time jump after Dune 2, a sign of the post-Holy War landscape, or a way for Paul to shift his image in this new role.

It will be fascinating to see if Paul’s new look plays a role in Dune: Part Three and is addressed, or if the meaning of Chalamet’s buzz cut is just something fans will have to decipher on their own.