Dane Dehaan: Highlight Reel

From the brooding James Dean to the merciless Green Goblin, Dane Dehaan has played an eclectic mix of characters in the last decade. Before starring in big budget flicks like The Amazing Spiderman 2 and Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, Dehaan was the darling of the indie-film world, delivering an almost unsettling intensity to his roles. He most recently starred in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets; the action-adventure fantasy film by noted directed Luc Besson. Valerian is out NOW on Digital Download, DVD and Blu-Ray and to celebrate the release, we’re taking a look at the highlights of Dane Dehaan’s career so far.

Chronicle (2012)

Dehaan’s break out role was in Chronicle, the drama following three high school students who discover that they have telekinetic powers. Dehaan plays Andrew, a socially awkward teenager whose main source of communication is through his video camera. Made for a minor $12 million, the film proved to be a huge commercial success and made $127 million at the box-office worldwide.

A Place Beyond the Pines (2012)

Dehaan played Jason in A Place Beyond the Pines, the troubled son of motorcycle stunt rider Luke (Ryan Gosling) and waitress Romina (Eva Mendes). The generational drama from director Derek Cianfrance shows how two sons have to deal with the consequences of their father’s actions. Dehaan was praised for his dark portrayal of Jason and the film was celebrated for its dreamy visuals.

Kill Your Darlings (2013)

Kill Your Darlings was the biopic of the iconic poet Allen Ginsberg (Daniel Radcliffe) and gave way to the literary movement: the Beat Generation. Set in 1944 at Colombia University, Ginsberg falls for his charismatic classmate Carr (Dehaan) and the two find themselves in a tale of murder and obsession. The chemistry between Radcliffe and Dehaan was electric, and Dehaan was nominated for the Breakthrough Actor award at the Gotham Independent Film Awards.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

Dehaan then starred as the villain in big budget blockbuster The Amazing Spider-Man 2. In the sequel, Dehaan played Harry Osborne, an old friend of Peter Parker. Originally played by James Franco, Osborne is transformed into the Green Goblin after injecting a special serum of spider-venom into his body. The role subsequently increased Dehaan’s popularity with mainstream audiences.

Life (2015)

Life followed the story of the relationship between the photographer Dennis Stock (Robert Pattinson) and the iconic actor James Dean (Dehaan). Producers Iain Canning and Emile Sherman said they chose Dehaan for the role because “his body of work has proved what a chameleon he is” and “casting Robert Pattinson and Dane DeHaan brings together two of the most exciting young actors of their generation.”

A Cure for Wellness (2017)

A Cure for Wellness is the psychological thriller from noted horror director Gore Verbinksi. Dehaan was cast as Lockhart, an ambitious young executive who becomes trapped at a terrifying “wellness centre” in the Swiss Alps. Starring alongside Jason Isaacs and Mia Goth, Dehaan once again proved his ability to play troubled, tortured roles.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)

Based on the French comic books by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets follows Valerian (Dehaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevigne) as special operatives for the government charged with maintaining order throughout the universe. Set in the year 2740, the mission takes place in the breath-taking intergalactic city of Alpha, an ever-expanding metropolis comprised of thousands of different species from all four corners of the galaxy. The film was praised for its action-packed scenes and dazzling visuals. Director Besson recalled casting Dehaan as the lead, “The first time I met him at a restaurant, he smiled, said ‘Hi,’ and that was it. I knew. The tone of his voice, the sparkle in his eyes and his smile — I thought ‘My God. This guy is Valerian.’”