Denis Villeneuve’sDunemovies are both faithful and creative adaptations of Frank Herbert’s novel of the same name, and with the confirmation thatDune: Messiahwill be adapted into a film next, the future of this sci-fi franchise has never looked brighter. Much like the book that it’s based on, the third movie in Villeneuve’s series will be very different from the original two, following the aftermath of Paul Atreides’ victory on Arrakis as he becomes the next Emperor of the Known Universe and launches a “holy war” on the remaining Great Houses that oppose him.
AlthoughDune: Messiahis a direct sequel toDune, the two books are very different in tone and follow a hugely different cast of characters. There areseveral new characters inDune: Messiahthat give the narrative a fresh perspective, allowing the story to expand beyond Paul’s life exclusively. Yet many of the characters from the original story are still included in the sequel novel, and they’ll almost certainly appear in the cinematic adaptation as well. Incidentally,characters like Lady Jessica and Gurney Halleck aren’t in the novel, but everything seems to point towards their inclusion in Villeneuve’s film.
7Paul Atreides
Played By Timothee Chalamet
The most obvious returning character inDune: Messiahis Paul Atreides, the protagonist of the first two films, played by Timothee Chalamet.InDune:Part Two’s explosive ending, Paul ambushes the Emperor and defeats his champion Feyd-Rautha in battle, claiming the Imperium for himself and launching a “holy war” on any of the houses who oppose his (and the Fremen’s) conquest of the universe. It’s a chilling moment that really emphasizes how far Paul has come from the beginning of the story, commenting astutely on the corrupting nature of absolute power.
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Dune: Messiahtakes place several years after the first book’s conclusion,with Paul now comfortably leading the Imperium and controlling his various hosts of Fremen soldiers across the universe. The story centers primarily around Emperor Paul’s desire for an heir to succeed him when the time comes, pulled apart by his duty to his wife, Princess Irulan, and his love for his concubine, Chani. It’s this conflict between honor and desire that sets the foundation of much ofDune: Messiah’s storytelling, and Paul is at the center of it.
6Chani
Played By Zendaya
One of the biggestdifferences betweenDune: Part Twoand Herbert’s bookcomes in the form of Chani’s character, whom Villeneuve gives a whole new sense of agency and distaste for Paul’s appetite for conquest.In the original story, Chani is much more complicit in Paul’s rise to power, believing the prophecy that he’s going to lead the Fremen to paradise. This is why she sticks by his side throughout the war, but Villeneuve clearly changes this aspect of her character in the movie, causing her to run away on a sandworm at the end ofDune: Part Two.
In the book, Chani stays by Paul’s side despite his political marriage to Princess Irulan - but this seems increasingly unlikely to happen in Villeneuve’s film.
This decision will have major consequences forDune: Messiah, as the relationship between Paul and Chani is in a completely different place. In the book, Chani stays by Paul’s side despite his political marriage to Princess Irulan - but this seems increasingly unlikely to happen in Villeneuve’s film. It’s unclear exactly how this love triangle will develop in the movie, but it’s sure to be very different from Herbert’s original vision of their relationship.
5Princess Irulan Corrino
Played By Florence Pugh
Princess Irulan is the daughter of the old Emperor Shaddam IV and the wife of the new Emperor Paul Atreides. Althoughher character wasn’t introduced untilDune: Part Two,she quickly became one of the series’ most interesting characters, using her Bene Gesserit upbringing to play with her father’s politics and climb the ladder of her family’s legacy. For Paul, their marriage is merely an asset to secure his claim to the Imperium and legitimize their inevitable child, but Irulan’s motives are much more complex.
Irulan’s future in theDunefranchiseis extremely complex and interesting: if Villeneuve continues pastDune: Messiah,the character could easily become the next main character of the series. Irulan is essentially a prisoner of war who’s trapped in a loveless marriage with the sole intention of producing an heir to maintain her family’s control over the Imperium, as much as Paul wants to have children with Chani instead. It’s a fascinating and very political character arc that’s very different to her role inDune: Part Two, but this is where her character finally reaches her true potential.
4Alia Atreides
Played By Anya Taylor-Joy
Alia’s appearance inDune: Part Twowas only brief, but her role in the future of theDunefranchise will be much more important. She’s the younger sister of Paul Atreides, conceived shortly before the Harkonnens’ invasion of Arrakis and most notable for having the collective consciousness of the Bene Gesserit housed in her childish mind.The character was played by Anya Taylor-Joy in a flash-forward inDune: Part Two, and given the amount of time that passes beforeDune: Messiah, the actress will likely return to reprise her role in the sequel.
Alia is another hugely important figure inDune: Messiah, as she’s largely responsible for upholding the legacy of House Atreides in the shadows.The character is also involved in a secretive, cloak-and-dagger assassination plotthat features some ofDune: Messiah’s most human and engaging storytelling.Paul’s sister Alia is a key player inDune: Messiah,without whom the story would certainly lack its more grounded, emotional approach.
One of the strongest aspects of Herbert’s books is the sheer time frame that they encapsulate, following several generations of this family as their story sprawls across decades and decades.
Alia is another character who will only become more and more important as the franchise progresses, as she carries the torch of House Atreides into the future after the events ofDune: Messiah. One of the strongest aspects of Herbert’s books is the sheer time frame that they encapsulate, following several generations of this family as their story sprawls across decades and decades. Paul Atreides is only a small part of the series as a whole, and characters like Alia and Irulan really encapsulate what’s so excellent about those books in the middle of the saga.
Played By Charlotte Rampling
There are several important Reverend Mothers in theDunefranchise, but Gaius is certainly the most prevalent. She’s the woman who first trained Lady Jessica in the ways of the Bene Gesserit, and she’s the one who tested Paul with the Gom Jabbar at the beginning of the first movie.Her entire purpose is to ensure the birth of the Kwisatz Haderach- a male offspring of the Bene Gesserit who’s able to drink the water of life and survive with their psychic powers. When Paul claims to be the Kwisatz Haderach inDune: Messiah, Gaius denounces the whole idea.
In Brian Herbert’s later Dune sequels, it’s revealed that Paul Atreides was never the “true” Kwisatz Haderach.
The Reverend Mother is an important character in the books, andDune: Messiahsees her take up arms against Emperor Paul as she believes he’s an “abomination” that brought the Kwisatz Haderach too early and under the wrong circumstances.She believes it was Lady Jessica’s intention to keep the chosen one for herself, which is why she disobeyed the Bene Gesserit’s orders and had a child with Duke Leto Atreides, which wasn’t prophesied. Her hatred for Paul inDune: Messiahis an important factor that drives home the book’s themes of religious failure and selfishness.
2Stilgar
Played By Javier Bardem
Stilgar is the leader of the Fremen whom Paul impresses at the end ofDuneby killing his friend Jamis in combat.He’s a religious fundamentalist who believes that Paul is the chosen onewho’s come to lead the Fremen to their vision of a green Arrakis, and it’s this devotion to his cause that rallies the rest of the Fremen to undertake his “holy war” and secure his place on the Golden Throne.Stilgar’s belief that Paul isLisan al Gaibmakes him a formidable friend to his cause, and Paul is quick to exploit that inDune: Messiah.
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Following Paul’s ascension to the throne,Stilgar is granted a stewardship of Arrakisand looks after the planet when Paul leaves for the Imperium. He’s in charge of ensuring that the Fremen can work towards their dream of a green Arrakis, which Paul prophesied towards the end ofDune. Stilgar was also responsible for leading the Fremen to war on Paul’s behalf, gathering a reputation for himself as a strong fighter and talented wartime commander.
1Duncan Idaho
Played By Jason Mamoa
One of the most surprising additions toDune: Messiah’s cast is Duncan Idaho, the soldier of House Atreides who was killed following the Harkonnens’ invasion of Arrakis. He was a close friend of Paul’s, and this makes him a dangerous weapon inDune: Messiah.He’s revived by those who dispute Paul’s claim to the Golden Throne as aghola(a zombie-like creature that can be controlled by its creator), and used to infiltrate the Imperium and carry out an assassination attempt on the young Emperor.
Duncan Idaho’s return inDune: Messiahis one of the most exciting parts of the story. His friendship with Paul is really tested in these moments, asthe Emperor is torn once again between duty and desire, unsure whether he can fully trust his old friend. Idaho’s return also opens the door for a romantic subplot with Alia Atreides, which only plays a small role in the original book but could easily be developed into something more interesting in Villeneuve’s next cinematicDuneinstallment.
Dune: Part Three
Cast
Dune: Part Three continues the epic saga with Paul Atreides as Emperor Muad’Dib facing threats from political adversaries and internal betrayal. Amidst the turmoil, the stability of House Atreides is jeopardized, while Paul grapples with protecting his lover, Chani, and their unborn child from emerging perils.
