Exploring Dune 2’s New Additions: Characters to Look Out for in the Sequel

Dune, the film that conquered 2021 with the good work of Denis Villeneuve, is back with a sequel that will serve to encompass the entire original novel by Frank Herbert. The sequel will arrive next November 3, 2023, and will bring back Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides and Zendaya as Chani.

Both in the official trailer and the poster of the film, we have been able to realize that Chani will have a much more important role in the story. While in the first film she barely appeared in small glimpses that resembled advertisements of colonies, in this second part it will be her moment and that of her tribe: the Fremen.

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But it’s not Zendaya who has grabbed all the attention of viewers, but the two new characters who were unknown to most but are played by two of the actors of the moment: Florence Pugh and Austin Butler. Who are these two new characters and what weight will they have in Villeneuve’s new story? We explain below.

The Princess Irulan

We have already dedicated an entire topic to explain who is Princess Irulan Corrino, the character played by Florence Pugh in the sequel to Villeneuve’s film. But it is important that you memorize this name, because it is one of the most important in Dune and who marks the fate of the character at any given time.

Irulan is the eldest of the five daughters of Shaddam IV, the 81st Emperor Padishah. The character does not appear until the final stretch of Frank Herbert’s book, but her appearance is essential to the plot. Irulan is raised from birth to have very little influence in her own life, and trains in the ways of the Bene Gesserit to one day be a Reverend Mother. Being the daughter of the emperor, she is highly valued, and her goal is nothing more than to be the wife of the head of a great house in order to make a political alliance.

In Dune, as Paul Atreides gradually takes over the Fremen and begins to fight against the Harkonnen government, his actions attract the attention of Emperor Shaddam, whose forces are sent to Arrakis to impose order. The ensuing battle between the Fremen and the Emperor’s Sardaukar heavily favors Paul’s armies, and leaves the Emperor with no choice but to forge a truce in which Paul becomes the new Emperor and marries Princess Irulan. She is thus the future wife of Chalamet’s character.

Just as happened with Little Women, a film in which Chalamet and Pugh ended up together despite not seeming destined, this same thing is what we may end up seeing in Dune. In the original story, his real love is Chani, but after a series of events and realizing that he must accept his destiny, Paul Atreides ends up accepting the engagement.

Despite being essential to the ending of the film, it is true that it seems that we will see very little of Pugh in the film; something like Zendaya in the first one. Be that as it may, it will be a delight to have a new relationship between these two actors we already know so well.

Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen

The character played by Austin Butler is just as important as that of Florence Pugh, and is vital for this second part in which we will see a Paul Atreides reconquering what was taken from him by force. The protagonist of Elvis will play this time Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, a character we knew very well in David Lynch’s film -he was played by Sting- but now appears very changed.

Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen is the younger nephew of Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, who we already knew very well in the first film. Feyd-Rautha is appointed successor of the House Harkonnen, so he is their representative in the final fight against Paul Atreides to keep Arrakis.

In the film, we will probably see how the Baron names this character his successor, despising his other eldest nephew, known as “The Beast” for his sadistic character. Thus, he will be his successor and will have to take the crown of his house to the top, but in front of him he will have Paul Atreides and a war for which he will not be prepared.

Feyd-Rautha is also the product of a genetic program developed hundreds of generations ago by the Bene Gesserit, and his legend is imprinted. Both he and Paul Atrides are doomed to face each other, but their conclusion is unclear. We will have to wait until the film’s release to find out.

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