MOVIE NEWS – Our first look at Austin Butler’s Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen and Florence Pugh’s Irulan Princess in Dune 2!

Many of Frank Herbert’s Dune fans have praised director Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 film as a step up from David Lynch’s 1984 version. Yet one aspect drew criticism: the omission of Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen. In Herbert’s 1965 novel, Feyd-Rautha serves as a more direct antagonist to the hero Paul Atreides. He is the only one who is more or less his equal in mental and fighting ability. Villeneuve’s film stars Stellan Skarsgård as the manipulative mastermind Baron Harkonnen. He also appeared briefly as Feyd’s foolish and brutish brother Rabban, played by Dave Bautista. Feyd, however, did not appear – but that changes in Dune 2.

As filming on Dune 2 draws to a close, Vanity Fair has the first look at the much-anticipated villain, played by Elvis star Austin Butler.

According to the outlet, the image doesn’t reveal much, as Villeneuve is holding back a more detailed introduction of the character until later in the promotional cycle. However, some important details can be seen, namely the blades he holds in both hands.

For Villeneuve, Feyd’s pose reveals a lot about this new threat to young Paul Atriedes (Timothée Chalamet), who, along with his mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Furgeson), has narrowly escaped the assassination attempt that claimed the life of his father, Prince Leto (Oscar Isaac).

To portray the role of Butler Feyd, the Canadian director turns to a famous English rock star who has a deep connection to the character. No, not Sting, who memorably portrayed Feyd in Lynch’s Dune. But to the person Alejandro Jodorowsky had in mind in his famous, doomed version of Dune: Mick Jagger.

“Austin Butler brought to the screen something that would be a cross between a psychotic, sociopath serial killer and Mick Jagger,” Villeneuve reveals.

In addition to Feyd, Vanity Fair also sheds some light on other vital characters missing from the first movie. Notably Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan and Léa Seydoux as Bene Gesserit’s Lady Margot.

The daughter of Emperor Shaddam IV (played by Christopher Walken in Dune 2), Irulan becomes a central figure not only in the life of Paul Atreides but also in the legacy of the mythological saviour Kwisatz Haderach. But for Lady Margot, the Bene Gesserit’s millennia-long agenda is more important than moral considerations. Whether all this will bring our heroes together on the same side remains to be seen in November.

Source: Variety

First look at Austin Butler as Feyd in DUNE Part Two. #DunePartTwo pic.twitter.com/EYV6QrX50G

— Secrets of Dune | 𝐑.ä𝐥í (@SecretsOfDune) April 27, 2023

First look at Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan in DUNE Part Two. #DunePartTwo pic.twitter.com/XEolfmhDJP

— Secrets of Dune | 𝐑.ä𝐥í (@SecretsOfDune) April 27, 2023

First look at Lea Seydoux as Lady Margot in DUNE Part Two. #DunePartTwo pic.twitter.com/sQlCUJ0jMs

— Secrets of Dune | 𝐑.ä𝐥í (@SecretsOfDune) April 27, 2023