Kenneth Branagh Reveals the Star-Studded Audition Line for Dune

Before Timothée Chalamet became the latest actor to play Paul Atreides in Dune, Kyle MacLachlan took on the role in David Lynch’s 1984 film. But MacLachlan was far from the only rising star hoping to land the part.

Kenneth Branagh has now revealed just how competitive the auditions were—and the lineup sounds almost unbelievable.

Speaking to PEOPLE, Branagh recalled being just 21 years old and sitting outside a hotel room, waiting for his chance to audition for Lynch. Sitting beside him were actors who would go on to become some of the biggest names in cinema: Gary Oldman, Daniel Day-Lewis, Colin Firth and Tim Roth.

“I’m sitting next to Gary Oldman who’s sitting next to Dan Day-Lewis, who’s sitting next to Colin Firth who’s sitting next to Tim Roth,” Branagh said. “Swear to God, I’m not making this up.”

All of them were competing for the role that ultimately went to MacLachlan.

At the time, however, none of them had reached the level of fame they would later enjoy. Branagh said he was a 21-year-old newcomer and had little experience compared with the others.

Despite the intense competition, Branagh remembered Lynch as being generous with his time. “We were all rivals for the part,” he said. “But David Lynch, for a 21-year-old nobody, he gave you time. He spoke to you.”

MacLachlan has also spoken about his own audition for Dune. In a 2022 interview, he recalled being only 22 or 23 and having never worked in front of a camera before.

One piece of dialogue proved particularly difficult, and MacLachlan began to lose confidence. Lynch, however, stepped in and reassured him.

“David just came up to me and I said, ‘David, I don’t really know if I can do this. I’m not sure,’” MacLachlan recalled. Lynch responded, “Kyle, I know you can do this. You got this. Just relax, breathe. Take your time.”

Those few words made a lasting impression on MacLachlan. He said Lynch immediately understood what he needed as an actor.

Although Lynch’s Dune struggled at the box office and received mixed reviews, the film marked the beginning of one of the most important creative partnerships of MacLachlan’s career.

MacLachlan went on to work with Lynch on Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me and Twin Peaks: The Return.

After Lynch died in 2025, MacLachlan paid tribute to the filmmaker, saying Lynch had changed both his career and his life.

“Forty-two years ago, for reasons beyond my comprehension, David Lynch plucked me out of obscurity to star in his first and last big budget movie,” MacLachlan wrote. “He clearly saw something in me that even I didn’t recognize. I owe my entire career, and life really, to his vision.”

Looking back, the Dune audition room was packed with actors who would eventually become Hollywood legends. But it was the relatively unknown MacLachlan who walked away with the role—and began a partnership with Lynch that would define much of his career.