Dune Part Two: New Characters and Predictions

Dune Part Two: New Characters and Predictions

Dive into the world of Dune Part Two as we reveal the new characters and predictions. Join us on this journey through the sands of Arrakis.

The universe of Frank Herbert's seminal 1965 novel, "Dune", continues to expand under the masterful direction of Denis Villeneuve. With the success of the first film, which grossed over $400 million at worldwide box offices against a production budget of $165 million, the anticipation for "Dune: Part Two" is palpable. The sequel promises to introduce a new cast of characters along with familiar actors from the first film.

New Characters in Dune Part Two

Feyd-Rautha

Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha

Feyd-Rautha is a significant character in Frank Herbert's science fiction novel "Dune". Born as Feyd-Rautha Rabban in October 10174 AG, he was the final Baron of House Harkonnen. After the death of his uncle, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, Feyd briefly assumed the barony before being killed in a duel with Paul “Muad’Dib” Atreides. Feyd-Rautha is often considered to be a villainous counterpart to Paul Atreides. Both of them were a product of the Bene Gesserit breeding program.

In the upcoming film "Dune: Part Two", Feyd-Rautha is portrayed by Austin Butler. Known for his role in "The Shannara Chronicles" and the upcoming biography of Elvis Presley, Butler brings a fresh interpretation to the character. His portrayal of Feyd-Rautha is expected to add a new dimension to the complex dynamics of the Dune universe.

Princess Irulan

Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan

Princess Irulan is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. She first appears in the novel "Dune" (1965), and is later featured in "Dune Messiah" (1969) and "Children of Dune" (1976). 

In the storyline, Irulan is established as the eldest daughter of the 81st Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV and Anirul, a Bene Gesserit of Hidden Rank. She is a historian who chronicles the events of Paul's rise to the Imperial throne. Irulan's character serves as a de facto narrator in "Dune", with excerpts of her later writings used as epigraphs before each chapter of the novel.

In the upcoming film "Dune: Part Two", Princess Irulan is portrayed by Florence Pugh. Known for her roles in "Little Women" and "Midsommar", Pugh brings a fresh interpretation to the character. Her portrayal of Princess Irulan is expected to add a new dimension to the complex dynamics of the Dune universe.

Lady Margot Fenring

Léa Seydoux as Lady Margot Fenring

Lady Margot Fenring is a fictional character from the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. She is featured in Herbert's Dune (1965), and is a major character in the Prelude to Dune prequel trilogy (1999–2001) and the 2008 novel Paul of Dune. 

In the storyline, Margot is the Bene Gesserit wife of Count Hasimir Fenring, a close friend of the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV. Margot's Bene Gesserit abilities include acute observation and awareness, seduction and sexual imprinting, and precise control of her body chemistry, which allows her to ensure conception and choose the sex of the child. Despite general prohibitions against sharing Bene Gesserit skills with males, Margot has trained her husband Count Fenring, who is sympathetic to the goals of the Bene Gesserit, in the acute observation practiced by the Sisterhood.

In the upcoming film "Dune: Part Two", Lady Margot Fenring is portrayed by Léa Seydoux. Known for her roles in "Blue Is the Warmest Colour" and "No Time to Die", Seydoux brings a fresh interpretation to the character. Her portrayal of Lady Margot Fenring is expected to add a new dimension to the complex dynamics of the Dune universe.

Shaddam IV

Christopher Walken as Emperor Shaddam IV

Shaddam Corrino IV is a pivotal character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. Born in 10119 AG, he was the 81st and last Padishah Emperor of the Corrino Empire. Shaddam's reign began in 10156 AG, following the death of his father, Emperor Elrood IX. He held the final legal authority and control over the Sardaukar, an elite fighting force reputed to be the most fearsome in the galaxy.

Shaddam IV was known for his obsession with projecting strength and manipulation. He feared the growing power of House Atreides, including their elite army that rivaled his own. To maintain his power, Shaddam IV sought to wipe out House Atreides, leading to a series of events that galvanized Paul Atreides against him.

In the upcoming film "Dune: Part Two", Shaddam IV is portrayed by the Academy Award-winning actor, Christopher Walken. Walken's portrayal of Emperor Shaddam IV is expected to diverge from previous versions, offering a more intense and captivating performance style. His interpretation of Shaddam IV is anticipated to add a new dimension to the complex dynamics of the Dune universe.

Shishakli

Souheila Yacoub as Shishakli

Souheila Yacoub, a Swiss actor known for her roles in "Plus belle la vie", "Climax", and "No Man's Land", has joined the cast of "Dune: Part Two". She will be portraying the character Shishakli.

In Frank Herbert's Dune universe, Shishakli is a member of the Fremen community of Stilgar’s Sietch Tabr. The character does not have a particularly massive role to play in the story, but is notable for being gender-swapped in the film adaptation. In the novel, Paul Atreides meets Shishakli as he is becoming acclimated among the Fremen. When Paul is learning how to ride sandworms, it's Shishakli who provides him with the hooks that are necessary for the activity.

Yacoub's portrayal of Shishakli is expected to add a new dimension to the complex dynamics of the Dune universe. This role in "Dune: Part Two" represents a significant milestone in Yacoub's acting career, marking her involvement in one of the most anticipated films of the year.

Alia Atreides

Anya Taylor-Joy Rumored to play Alia Atreides

Alia Atreides is a significant character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. Introduced in the first novel of the series, 1965's Dune, Alia is the posthumous daughter of Duke Leto Atreides and his Bene Gesserit concubine, Lady Jessica. She is the younger sister of Paul Atreides.

Born on the planet Arrakis eight months after her father's death, Alia possesses the full powers of an adult Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother. She is considered an Abomination by the Bene Gesserit due to the unique nature of her birth. As an adult, she becomes a devoted ally to Paul, and later regent for his children.

In the upcoming film "Dune: Part Two", Alia Atreides is rumored to be portrayed by Anya Taylor-Joy. Known for her roles in "The Queen's Gambit" and "Emma", Taylor-Joy can bring a fresh interpretation to the character. Her portrayal of Alia Atreides is expected to add a new dimension to the complex dynamics of the Dune universe.

Story Predictions For Dune Part Two

"Dune: Part Two" is expected to pick up where the first film left off, covering the second half of Frank Herbert's original novel. Here are some key story elements that we can anticipate based on the novel:

1. Paul's Transformation: In the novel, Paul's duel with Jamis takes place in the Fremen stronghold Sietch Tabr. After this duel, Paul truly comes into his own. He is given the name Usul, meaning the base of a pillar, by Stilgar. He also chooses the name Muad'Dib for himself. As Paul grows into his role in the Sietch, his abilities become stronger.

2. The Return of Gurney Halleck and Thufir Hawat: Both characters survive the attack on Arrakeen in the novel and should thus be poised to return in "Dune: Part Two". Gurney and dozens of his troops escape and become spice Melange smugglers, while Thufir ends up in the clutches of Baron Harkonnen.

3. The Rise of House Atreides: The novel follows the rise of House Atreides as they navigate the complex geopolitics of Arrakis. The second part of the film is likely to delve deeper into this storyline, showcasing Paul's journey to power.

4. The Role of Alia Atreides: Alia, Paul's younger sister, is a significant character in the Dune universe. Born with the full powers of an adult Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother, Alia becomes a devoted ally to Paul and later regent for his children. Her character is expected to play a crucial role in "Dune: Part Two".

5. The Fremen Uprising: The Fremen, the indigenous people of Arrakis, play a pivotal role in the novel. Their uprising against the Harkonnens and the Emperor forms a significant part of the story. This aspect is likely to be explored in detail in the sequel.

Please note that while these predictions are based on the original novel, the film adaptation may include changes or additions to the story. We'll have to wait for the release of "Dune: Part Two" to see how these elements are brought to life on the big screen.

Dune Part Two Complete Plot As Per The Novel (Potential Spoilers Ahead)

The truth surfaces that Jessica is the offspring of Baron Harkonnen, a fact concealed from her by the Bene Gesserit. Following their capture by the Fremen, Paul and Jessica find acceptance within the Fremen community of Sietch Tabr, where they impart the Bene Gesserit combat method known as the ‘weirding way’. Paul establishes his maturity by defeating a Fremen named Jamis in a ceremonial crysknife duel and adopts the Fremen name Muad’Dib. Simultaneously, Jessica chooses to partake in a ritual to ascend as a Reverend Mother by consuming the lethal Water of Life. While carrying Leto’s daughter, she unintentionally imbues the unborn child, Alia, with the same abilities in utero. Paul enters a romantic relationship with a Fremen woman, Chani, and they have a son together, Leto II.

Two years elapse, and Paul’s potent foresight becomes evident, affirming to the Fremen that he is the messiah they had prophesied, a legend seeded by the Bene Gesserit’s Missionaria Protectiva. Paul adopts his father’s conviction that the Fremen could form a formidable army to reclaim Arrakis, but he also realizes that if he fails to govern them, their holy war could engulf the entire cosmos. News of the emerging Fremen leader reaches both Baron Harkonnen and the Emperor as the spice production dwindles due to their escalating destructive assaults. The Baron prompts his savage nephew Glossu Rabban to rule with unyielding authority, anticipating that the contrast with his more astute nephew Feyd-Rautha will render the latter favored among the Arrakis populace when he eventually supersedes Rabban. The Emperor, suspecting the Baron of assembling a force more potent than the Sardaukar to usurp power, dispatches spies to scrutinize activities on Arrakis. Hawat seizes this chance to instill uncertainty in the Baron about the Emperor’s actual intentions, thereby exacerbating the tension in their alliance.

Gurney, a survivor of the Harkonnen coup who turned to smuggling, is reunited with Paul and Jessica following a Fremen assault on his harvester. Convinced that Jessica is the betrayer, Gurney is poised to execute her, but Paul intervenes. Paul’s prescience did not predict Gurney’s assault, leading him to conclude that he must enhance his foresight by consuming the Water of Life, a substance typically lethal to men. After ingesting the toxic liquid, Paul lapses into a three-week coma, but upon awakening, he possesses omniscience spanning time and space: he is the Kwisatz Haderach, the ultimate objective of the Bene Gesserit breeding initiative.

Paul perceives that the Emperor and Baron are gathering armadas around Arrakis to suppress the Fremen uprising, and readies the Fremen for a significant strike against the Harkonnen forces. The Emperor, accompanied by the Baron, lands on Arrakis. The Emperor’s soldiers overrun a Fremen stronghold, causing numerous casualties including young Leto II, while Alia is apprehended and brought before the Emperor. Shielded by an electrical storm, which disrupts the defensive shields of the Emperor’s soldiers, Paul and the Fremen, astride colossal sandworms, launch an attack on the capital as Alia eliminates the Baron and flees. The Fremen swiftly overpower both the Harkonnen and Sardaukar forces.

Paul confronts the Emperor, issuing an ultimatum to obliterate spice production permanently unless Shaddam relinquishes the throne. Feyd-Rautha endeavors to thwart Paul by provoking him into a ceremonial knife duel, during which he tries to deceive and assassinate Paul with a venomous spur concealed in his belt. Paul seizes the advantage and slays him. The Emperor grudgingly surrenders the throne to Paul and pledges his daughter Princess Irulan’s hand in matrimony. As Paul assumes command of the Empire, he acknowledges that while he has accomplished his objective, he is incapable of halting the Fremen holy war, as their faith in him is too potent to curb.

The movie “Dune: Part Two” is set to be released in the United States on March 1, 2024.

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