Why Creating The Viral NSFW Dune 2 Popcorn Bucket Was Honestly A Big Challenge, According To The Guys Who Did It

Why Creating The Viral NSFW Dune 2 Popcorn Bucket Was Honestly A Big Challenge, According To The Guys Who Did It

As someone who has been following the popcorn bucket trend with bated breath, I must say, the saga of the Dune 2 sandworm container has left me utterly amazed! If you had told me a year ago that a popcorn bucket would be the talking point of film merchandise in 2024, I’d have laughed it off as a joke. But then again, who would have thought that Ryan Reynolds would create a lewd Wolverine bucket based on the Dune sandworm frenzy?


If you had told me at the end of 2023 that popcorn buckets would generate as much buzz as they have in 2024, I wouldn’t have taken you seriously – mainly because I wasn’t aware of the NSFW Dune 2 popcorn bucket resembling a sex toy. However, it turned out to be quite viral due to its design based on the sandworms from Arrakis. This led Ryan Reynolds to create a risqué Wolverine bucket for Deadpool & Wolverine. Now, the creators of Dune 2’s popcorn bucket have shared why developing this online sensation was quite challenging.

Marcus Gonzalez, the worldwide creative leader at Zinc Group – creators of the Dune 2 popcorn container – discussed with Vulture the backstory of this movie merchandise. Gonzalez explained that designing this bucket proved to be a greater challenge compared to other projects due to its unique requirements.

Each film shares a common theme: Identifying memorable elements and souvenirs for the audience. Dune was difficult to adapt because it lacks instantly recognizable characters, unlike Marvel films. On the other hand, horror movies (excluding franchises like Friday the 13th or Saw) don’t have specific motifs to rely on.

As a devoted fan, I get what you’re saying. Frank Herbert’s Dune mythology is rich with intriguing characters and stands tall among the giants of science fiction literature. Yet, when it comes to imagining a character worthy of being sculpted into a popcorn bucket, there seems to be a noticeable lack. The only figure that somewhat fits the bill is Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, portrayed by Stellan Skarsgård in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films. However, even he might not possess the visual uniqueness required for such an adaptation into a bucket form.

With characters from Dune ruled out, Marcus Gonzalez and his team at Zinc Group were left with limited choices for the iconic symbol of Dune 2. As he went on to explain, while the Bene Gesserit’s pain box was an option, ultimately the sandworm emerged as the most fitting choice; they then needed to decide how this creature would be portrayed.

As a die-hard Dune fan, I had an intriguing concept in mind – the pain box. At first glance, it might seem mysterious to non-Dune enthusiasts. However, the real challenge lay in transforming this into a functional popcorn bucket, maintaining its unique character without compromising its aesthetic appeal.

In the interview, Gonzalez admitted that when the Dune 2 popcorn bucket was unveiled online, over six months before the movie’s release on the 2024 schedule, he found himself in a state of panic. He worried that the bucket might be misunderstood and if they had missed something in its design. However, the bucket’s popularity on the internet proved beneficial, as it has been selling incredibly well, even at San Diego Comic-Con last month. Moreover, Rod Mason, Zinc Group’s vice president of business development, mentioned that this sudden fame has sparked an increased interest in popcorn buckets from both theater and non-cinema clients.

If you’ve managed to get your hands on the Sandworm Popcorn Bucket, make sure to utilize it as intended by filling it with your beloved cinema snack while streaming Dune 2 or any movie of your choice using your Max subscription. Since we’re anticipating the release of Dune Messiah in 2026, I can’t wait to see what kind of bucket will be created for Denis Villeneuve’s concluding chapter in this series.

Read More

2024-08-06 01:07