Who are the new heroes of the epic desert tale?
In a photo published by Warner Bros. Pictures via Empire brings the villainous Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, played by the bald Austin Butler, face to face with Lady Margot Fenring, wife of the former governor of Arrakis, played by Léa Seydoux. Both characters are new to the series and do not appear in the 2021 Dune . Since Feyd-Rautha, the youngest nephew of Baron Wladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård), is the intended heir to House Harkonnen, he has a significant role to play in the sequel that concludes the story of Frank Herbert’s original 1965 novel, Dune, on which the films were made .
Austin brought something that is a cross between a psychopath, an Olympic fencing champion, a snake and Mick Jagger… He has incredible sex appeal, charisma and madness. It really is visible to the naked eye
said Empire Denis Villeneuve, who directed both films.
In a 2022 interview with Backstage , Butler commented on the character he plays:
We’re really trying to explore the humanity of this character. The point is, the bad guy doesn’t feel like he’s the bad guy. He feels like he’s the hero of his own story. And that can be difficult with some characters, easier with others, but you don’t have to judge the character and you have to find a way to feel motivated for each of your actions. So we had a lot of conversations and together we came up with a plan to portray the character as best as possible.
Margot is a supporting character, even in Herbert’s original novel. In Dune: Part Two , she will be on a Bene Genesserit mission with Feyd-Rautha, and Villeneuve hints that Margot will be more present in his film than in the novel, while being careful about revealing details.
Dune: Part Two – cast and release date
According to the synopsis:
Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen as he seeks revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Faced with a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he must prevent a terrible future that only he can predict.
The cast includes returning stars: Timothée Chalamet as Duke Paul Atredies, Zendaya as Chani, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Javier Bardem as Stilgar, Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck, Stellan Skarsgård as Baron Vladimir Harkonen, Dave Bautista as Glossu Rabban, Charlotte Rampling as Gaius Helen Mohiam and Stephen McKinley Henderson as Thufir Hawat. New cast members include Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, Christopher Walken as Shaddam IV, Padishah Emperor, Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, Léa Seydoux as Lady Margot and Souheila Yacoub as Shishakli.
Dune: Part Two hits theaters on March 14, 2024.
