The Dune: Part Three stars' stunt airs on BBC One's Children in Need, with the film launching in the UK on 18 December.
Rylan Clark, one of the hosts of BBC One's Children in Need, believed he was interviewing four of Hollywood's biggest names, Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa and Anya Taylor-Joy, at a Dune: Part Three press junket. The stars, however, had children in their earpieces calling the shots. The stunt is part of the live appeal, which airs from 7pm GMT on Friday.
The BBC says the interview "quickly unravels into hilarious chaos, leaving Rylan desperately trying to keep the conversation on track while becoming increasingly baffled by what's unfolding in front of him." The Independent reports that three children secretly directed the actors, feeding them prompts through an earpiece. Chalamet was prompted to interrupt the conversation, look at his mobile and tell Clark that he was "bidding on an air fryer" and currently winning.
Later, Chalamet exclaimed about the auction:
"No I've lost the lead."
Taylor-Joy replied: "Man I'm sorry." Teaser footage shows Clark asking: "Is everyone all right?"
Deadline reports that the prank has already been recorded and will be shown in full during the show, which is hosted live from Salford.
The 47th annual appeal, titled Challenge Yourself 2026, asks the public to design their own fundraising challenges inspired by the number 26. Alex Jones, Mel Giedroyc, Sara Cox and Tyler West host alongside Clark, and last year's appeal raised more than £45m for children and young people across the UK.
The show will also welcome Radio 2 presenter Owain Wyn Evans, who finished his 400-mile four-nation cycle ride in Cardiff on Friday. He raised more than £3.8m along the way. Four young people make up The One Show's challenge squad, among them Zoe, 16, who has Down's syndrome and will dance with the cast of High School Musical, and Ana, also 16, who is doing a three-day kayaking challenge.
Dune: Part Three was directed by Denis Villeneuve and is based on Frank Herbert's classic novel. It follows the films released in 2021 and 2024, and the story picks up over ten years after the second movie, with the aftermath of Paul Atreides ascending as galactic emperor. Deadline reports the stunt acts as advertising for the film in one of its biggest non-U.S. markets.
Zendaya also featured in The Odyssey, alongside Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway and Robert Pattinson. Chalamet starred in Marty Supreme last year and played Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown the year before.
Dune: Part Three arrives in cinemas on 18 December.
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