DUNE DEBUT SET FOR ITALY FEST

Denis Villeneuve's hotly anticipated film Dune will make its world premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival in Italy this September. The filmmaker's adaptation of Frank Herbert's sci-fi bestseller will debut Sept. 3 at the Sala Grande, two days after the festival opens.

Villeneuve, shown, was last at the festival with Arrival in 2016. His new film features Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac and Josh Brolin.

Dune centres on Paul Atreides, a brilliant young man who must travel to a dangerous desert planet to ensure that his family and his people have a future.

Oscar-winning Parasite director Bong Joon Ho will serve as the president of the Venice jury, while Italian actor and director Roberto Benigni will receive the festival's Golden Lion Lifetime Achievement Award.