Dune: Part Two Cast & Character Guide
02 -03-2024
Here are spoilers for the movies "Dune: Part Two", "Dune", and "Dune: Part One".
There were a lot of skepticisms when the audience first heard that "Dune" was going to be divided in half. In the 2010s there were many multi-part movies based on books which were arguably not long enough for more than one film. The production received a lot of criticism for splitting up "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", a book of 750 pages that made great use of the extra space. The Onion made a joke at that time: "Final Minutes of Last Harry Potter Movie to be Split into Seven Separate Films." They mocked the Harry Potter series and the fans who were so okay with the split.
The criticism of "Harry Potter", while unfair, was becoming more and more prescient, as both "The Hunger Games", "The Hobbit", and other films pulled off similar stunts. In 2014, the audience wondered why the "The Hobbit", a 250-page book, needed three movies. If the 400 page "Fellowship of the Ring," could be adapted to a single film, it was not fair that "The Hunger Games" and "The Hobbit," did the same.
The cash grab allegations have been largely disproven by "Dune: Part Two". Read our review. It's partly because it's so good, and partially because it feels completely different. The second installment of "Dune" is not only different in tone and emphasis, it also features a new cast. The original characters like Paul, Jessica and Chani are all still there, but they have been joined this time by some fascinating new ones.
Austin Butler in Feyd Rautha Harkonnen
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Feyd Rautha can be a frightening character. Early on, he is described as "psychotic", and he lives up to this promise. It's a tough fight, he's creepy and weird. This makes it all the more difficult for Paul to reach the throne before he can beat him. Paul was able to win the duel he faced with someone with little effort, but this time will be more difficult. Feyd Rautha's strange honor makes him even more intriguing. He may be evil, but respects those few who are able to hold their own against him.
Austin Butler's "Part Two", even though it is a sequel, has surpassed Sting's iconic portrayal of himself in 1984's movie. In an interview conducted last year, returning cast member Dave Bautista said, "I'm not sure who this man is, but I don't think it's Austin Butler." This is not Elvis... His voice and appearance are different. "Everything about his demeanor makes him terrifying." We now know that Bautista was not kidding. Bautista’s Beast Rabban character will have to now find a solution to working with the lunatic.
Florence Pugh in the role of Princess Irulan
Irulan, in his book form, is technically the first character that we have ever met. Each chapter of "Dune", a fictional book written by Paul, begins with an extract from "The Manual of Muad'Dib". Although she's the Emperor’s daughter, she's not a villain.
The Princess Irulan character in the book doesn't do much, despite how cool and wise she seems at first. It's a shame that her role in the books is so thankless. She's part if a subversive, long-term journey of characterization, yes, but for readers who were hyped up by those first excerpts, it can be disappointing.
Florence Pugh’s Irulan is given a little more freedom. The story is the same, but the narration gives her more attention and dignity. She is introduced early and we see more of her outside Paul's point of view. Her intelligence can be seen rather than just spoken about as in the book. Pugh said in an interview that "Dune: Part Two", which is a sequel to the novel, leaves you wanting more.
"She is allowed to grow which I think is wonderful... she becomes more like an essence and so I liked that she was not just completely present but you wanted to learn more about her."
Christopher Walken in Emperor Shaddam III
It's hard being the Emperor in the Known Universe and no one knows that better than him. In the book, the Padishah is an old and stressed-out Emperor. His insecurity about the fame of Paul's dad starts the entire series. The Atreides family is exiled to Arrakis and then killed by the Harkonnen shortly after their arrival. Why kill them? The Atreides were too popular and well established to pull off such an act. The Emperor would need to do his betrayal secondhand in order for him to maintain plausible denial.
The movie's Emperor Shaddam, like his book character, has complex, and mostly negative, feelings toward the House of Atreides. In the trailer he tells Paul, "Your father is a weak person." But his bravado and assertiveness are undermined by his frustration at Paul's continuing existence. All the Emperor would have to worry about if Paul and Jessica died in part one as planned. He and his daughter are now faced with a whole new set of problems.
Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia
Anya Taylor Joy is the most unexpected addition to the cast. Book Alia was a young child for the entire first book. Jessica has just given birth, and the child Alia is a toddler. However, she shows intelligence and maturity far above her years. Jessica made the questionable choice to overdose on spices as part of her ceremony to be Fremen's Reverend mother.
Jessica woke up the consciousness of the fetus way too soon by exposing it to the spices. She was able to not only access her memories but also hyperawareness. Alia, despite being a sympathetic character, is considered an Abomination by some. Alia is Jessica and Paul's friend; she might have a problem in the future, but right now, it's not affecting her.
The birth of Alia is postponed in this movie. Jessica is pregnant for the entire movie, so they don't have to worry about finding an actress who is 2 years old. Alia has a surprising level of agency thanks to the fact that she is able to communicate with Jessica and see her through Jessica's eyes, even when she is a foetus. Taylor-Joy is only briefly involved in the movie, but her presence promises to be significant.
Souheila Y. Yacoub, Shishakli
Shishakli may not be recognizable to readers, since he is only a minor character. Shishakli, a Fremon friend of Paul's, gives him his hooks for wrangling worms as Paul learns to ride the worms.
Shishakli replied in a low voice, "They're my hooks." "They've never let me down."
It's pretty much the end of the story for Paul; there is never a moment where he returns the hooks. Shishakli, a character so minor that Villeneuve chose to change her gender as a woman, is unlikely to be met with much criticism. The first book already had Kynes gender swapped; the second is much less drastic.
Chani's (Zendaya) best friend is Shishakli, the movie. Both Chani (Zendaya) and Shishakli make fun of Paul, often making jokes about him. They also doubt his role as the promised savior for the Fremen. Shishakli has a particular distrust of strangers and so is not afraid to poke fun at Paul. Shishakli may not have been a key player in "Dune", but she will still enjoy her time here.
Lea Seydoux as Margot Fenring
Gaius Helen Mohiam was an older Bene Gesserit, a witch who is described as cold-hearted, strategic and even cruel. Jessica is another younger Bene Gesserit, who has a more emotional side, yet still maintains a strong, powerful character with a dark, pragmatic streak. Margot Fenring, the youngest Bene Gesserit to date is introduced in "Dune: Part Two".
Margot has the benefit of being young. She is also an incredibly powerful woman who can pull off many tricks. She is able to seduce men without much effort, as she portrays herself as harmless. It is an important skill, considering that the plan of the group (which dates back to thousands of years ago) involves subtly manipulating major house's bloodlines. They want to create the Kwisatch Haderach - an all powerful figure that can control the universe and take over the throne. Margot will do whatever it takes to make this plan succeed.