Casting Dune Part 2

 

Image Credit: Warner Bros.

Director Denis Villeneuve’s new take on the classic sci-fi novel Dune won’t hit theaters until October but that doesn’t stop me from speculating about what might come next. Frank Herbert’s tale remains one of my all-time favorite books and while I enjoyed David Lynch’s film adaptation in 1984, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t admit that movie is deeply flawed. So as much as I tend to dislike remakes, I’m excited about this one. That brings us to this post. The new Dune only covers part of the novel and that novel is only one of a series of six. Which major characters from the first book won’t appear until Part 2? Based on currently released information, several.

Full disclosure, the idea for this post is as unoriginal as it gets. I recently read an article on this same topic at The Nerdist and I disagreed with the author’s picks so strenuously, I decided to make my own. Part of that author’s perspective was to advocate for diversity in the film’s casting which I whole-heartedly agree with, but if you look at the cast for the first film, I think Villeneuve has already done a good job of it. My focus here is to offer choices that more closely align with Herbert’s original vision. The Nerdist gets something approaching 5 million hits per year while this blog receives... less than that so hopefully they won’t be too bent out of shape with me stepping on their toes this go-round. So who’s the bigger Dune nerd, me or The Nerdist? Read on and decide for yourself.

 

Padishah Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV

The Emperor is a dangerous, rather petty ruler who kicks off the story by pitting the evil Harkonnens against the virtuous but threatening Atreides. While he’s in the background all along, he doesn’t really become a visible player until the story’s final act when Paul comes to the emperor’s court to exact his revenge.

Playing a man named “Shaddam” you’re going to need someone with a certain amount of flair. As the emperor of the known universe, the actor should be comfortable acting regal as well. Who has more flair than the actor who has played such powerful characters as Dracula, Winston Churchill, and Sirius Black? Gary Oldman would make a great Padishah Emperor.

If Oldman isn’t available, a nice back-up plan would be Vincent Cassel. Handsome, exotic, and no stranger to playing bad guys, Cassel could fill this role as nicely as he did playing antagonists in such films and shows as Ocean’s Twelve, Eastern Promises, and Westworld.

 

Princess Irulan

Irulan is the eldest daughter of the emperor and as such, whoever she marries is in line for the throne. This results in her being the target of Paul’s revenge, becoming his bride so that he can take control of the universe despite Shaddam’s objection. Irulan is meant to be a blonde, blue-eyed beauty that ultimately accepts her role as an unloved but politically advantageous bride to an unloving husband to become the narrator for much of the story.

Anyone who has watched the excellent Netflix series Ozark knows Julia Garner is a fantastic actress. In my opinion, she’s the best part of a show that includes quite a few good parts. While the role of Ruth Langmore is that of an uncouth, uneducated con woman, I think Garner has the talent and natural good looks to make Irulan shine.

If family resemblance is important, you’d be hard-pressed to find an actress to better match Cassel’s stand out blue eyes than Odeya Rush. Perhaps not as well-known as Garner, Rush is probably most recognized for her roles in the films Lady Bird, Goosebumps, and The Giver.  

 

Count Hasimir Fenring

Fenring is supposed to be diminutive in stature, weasly-faced but also a deadly assassin who has helped Shaddam achieve and consolidate power over the decades. He is the man in the shadows who understands every angle and plays them to his emperor’s advantage.

If you’ve watched his performances in films such as Watchmen, Shutter Island, or Dark Shadows, you know Jackie Earle Haley can nail this role. Haley knows how to play intense and creepy. Given that the character is supposed to be similar in age to Shaddam, Haley would be particularly well suited for this role if Oldman plays the emperor.

If someone like Cassel gets the role of Shaddam, a younger Fenring candidate is Eddie Marsan. My favorite of his performances is the overmatched Inspector Lestrade in Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes films, but you’ve seen Marsan in a ton of productions. Gangs of New York, V for Vendetta, The Illusionist, Atomic Blonde, Marsan is one of the best character actors working today.

Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen

And finally we have Feyd, the handsome but monstrous nephew of bad guy Baron Vladimir Harkonnen who is a product of the same breeding program as our young hero Paul and who engages in hand-to-hand combat with Paul for the hand of Irulan and control of the throne in the stories’ final confrontation. This part was famously played by the rock musician Sting in the 1984 version so while it’s a relatively small part, it’s a flashy one.  

You can accuse me of being too on-the-nose with this choice, but why not Bill Skarsgard? As the son of Stellan Skarsgard, the actor playing the Baron, you won’t find a better family likeness. Bill is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Pennywise in the latest version of It so he’s certainly proven himself capable of playing a menacing villain.

If you’d prefer someone a little less obvious, how about Dacre Montgomery? His resume might be a little light, but he was fun to hate as bad boy Billy Hargrove in Seasons 2 and 3 of the Netflix retro horror series Stranger Things. He's also got the leer and ripped abs if Villeneuve dares to do a new take on Sting's infamous steam bath scene.

 

With the upcoming film including such stellar actors as Javier Bardem, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Charlotte Rampling, Timothee Chalamet, and Oscar Issac I have no doubt Villeneuve will make more great casting choices in the sequel. Here’s hoping that Dune is the rare remake that outshines the original.