Dennis Villeneuve Dune the films are faithful and creative adaptations of Frank Herbert’s novel of the same name, and with the confirmation that Dune: Messiah will be adapted into a film next, the future of this sci-fi franchise has never looked brighter. Much like the book it is based on, the third film in Villeneuve’s series will be very different from the original two, following Paul Atreides’ victory on Arrakis as he becomes the next Emperor of the Known Universe and launches a “holy war” in the remaining Great Houses that oppose him.
Although Dune: Messiah is a direct sequence of Dunethe two books have very different tones and follow an extremely different cast of characters. There are several new characters in Dune: Messiah which give the narrative a new perspective, allowing the story to expand beyond Paul’s life alone. However, many of the characters from the original story are still included in the novel’s sequel and will almost certainly appear in the film adaptation as well. Indeed, characters like Lady Jessica and Gurney Halleck are not in the novelbut everything seems to point to its inclusion in Villeneuve’s film.
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Paulo Atreides
Played by Timothée Chalamet
The most obvious returning character in Dune: Messiah is Paul Atreides, protagonist of the first two films, played by Timothee Chalamet. In Dune: Part TwoIn Paul’s explosive finale, Paul ambushes the Emperor and defeats his champion Feyd-Rautha in battle, claiming the Empire for himself and launching a “holy war” in any of the houses that oppose his (and the Fremen’s) conquest of the universe. It’s a chilling moment that really emphasizes how far Paul has come since the beginning of the story, slyly commenting on the corrupting nature of absolute power.
Dune: Messiah takes place several years after the completion of the first book, with Paul now comfortably leading the Empire and controlling its various hosts of Fremen soldiers across the universe. The story mainly revolves around Emperor Paul’s desire to have an heir to succeed him when the time comes, divided by his duty to his wife, Princess Irulan, and his love for his concubine, Chani. It is this conflict between honor and desire that lays the foundation for much of Dune: Messiahit is Paul’s narrative, and Paul is at the center of it.
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Chani
Played by Zendaya
One of the biggest differences between Dune: Part Two and Herbert’s book comes in the form of the character of Chani, to whom Villeneuve gives a new sense of agency and aversion to Paul’s appetite for conquest. In the original story, Chani is much more complicit in Paulo’s rise to powerbelieving in the prophecy that he will lead the Fremen to paradise. This is why she stays by his side during the war, but Villeneuve clearly changes this aspect of her character in the film, having her flee on a sandworm at the end of Dune: Part Two.
In the book, Chani remains by Paul’s side despite his political marriage to Princess Irulan – but it looks increasingly unlikely that this will happen in Villeneuve’s film.
This decision will have important consequences for Dune: Messiahas the relationship between Paul and Chani is in a completely different place. In the book, Chani remains by Paul’s side despite his political marriage to Princess Irulan – but it looks increasingly unlikely that this will happen in Villeneuve’s film. It’s unclear exactly how this love triangle will play out in the film, but it will certainly be very different from Herbert’s original vision of their relationship.
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Princess Irulan Corrino
Played by Florence Pugh
Princess Irulan is the daughter of the former Emperor Shaddam IV and wife of the new Emperor Paul Atreides. Although her character was not introduced until Dune: Part Two, She quickly became one of the series’ most interesting characters, using her Bene Gesserit upbringing to play on her father’s politics and climb the ladder of her family’s legacy. For Paul, their marriage is merely a trump card to secure his claim to the Empire and legitimize his inevitable child, but Irulan’s motives are much more complex.
Irulan’s future in Dune franchise is extremely complex and interesting: if Villeneuve continues beyond Dune: Messiah, the character could easily become the next main character in the series. Irulan is essentially a prisoner of war who is trapped in a loveless marriage with the sole intention of producing an heir to maintain her family’s control over the Empire, no matter how much Paul wants to have children with Chani. It’s a fascinating and very political character arc, very different from her role in Dune: Part Twobut this is where her character finally reaches her true potential.
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Alia Atreides
Played by Anya Taylor-Joy
Alia’s appearance in Dune: Part Two was only brief, but its role in the future of Dune Franchise will be much more important. She is the younger sister of Paul Atreides, conceived shortly before the invasion of Arrakis by the Harkonnens and most notable for having the Bene Gesserit collective consciousness lodged in her childish mind. The character was played by Anya Taylor-Joy in a flash-forward in Dune: Part Twoand given the amount of time that passes before Dune: Messiahthe actress will likely return to reprise her role in the sequel.
Alia is another extremely important figure in Dune: Messiahas she is largely responsible for keeping the legacy of House Atreides in the shadows. The character is also involved in a secret undercover murder plot. which presents some Dune: Messiahthe most human and engaging narrative. Paul’s sister Alia is a key player Dune: Messiah, without which the story certainly wouldn’t have a more grounded and emotional approach.
One of the strongest aspects of Herbert’s books is the time period they encapsulate, following multiple generations of this family as their story spans 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 following the events of Dune: Messiah. One of the strongest aspects of Herbert’s books is the time period they encapsulate, following multiple generations of this family as their story spans decades and decades. Paul Atreides is just a small part of the series as a whole, and characters like Alia and Irulan really epitomize what is so great about these mid-saga books.
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Reverend Mother Gaius Mohiam
Played by Charlotte Rampling
There are several important Reverend Mothers in the Dune franchise, but Caio is certainly the most prevalent. She was the woman who first trained Lady Jessica in the ways of the Bene Gesserit, and she was the one who tested Paul with the Gom Jabbar at the beginning of the first film. Its entire purpose is to ensure the birth of the Kwisatz Haderach – a male descendant of the Bene Gesserit who is able to drink the water of life and survive with his psychic powers. When Paul claims to be the Kwisatz Haderach in Dune: MessiahCaio denounces the entire idea.
The Reverend Mother is an important character in the books, and Dune: Messiah sees her take up arms against Emperor Paul, as she believes he is a “abomination” who brought in the Kwisatz Haderach too early and in the wrong circumstances. She believes it was Lady Jessica’s intention to keep her chosen one for herself.which is why she disobeyed the Bene Gesserit’s orders and had a child with Duke Leto Atreides, which was not prophesied. His hatred for Paul in Dune: Messiah is an important factor that emphasizes the book’s themes of religious failure and selfishness.
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Stilgar
Played by Javier Bardem
Stilgar is the Fremen leader whom Paul impresses at the end of Dune killing his friend Jamis in combat. He is a religious fundamentalist who believes that Paul is the chosen one who has come to lead the Fremen in their vision of a green Arrakis, and it is this devotion to their cause that unites the rest of the Fremen to undertake their “holy war” and secure your place on the Golden Throne. Stilgar’s belief that Paul is Lisan al-Gaib makes him a formidable friend to his cause, and Paul is quick to exploit this in Dune: Messiah.
After Paul’s ascension to the throne, Stilgar is given stewardship of Arrakis and takes care of the planet when Paul leaves for the Imperium. He is responsible for ensuring that the Fremen can work towards the dream of a green Arrakis, which Paul prophesied at the end of Dune. Stilgar was also responsible for leading the Fremen into war on Paul’s behalf, earning a reputation as a strong fighter and talented wartime commander.
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duncan idaho
Played by Jason Mamoa
One of the most surprising additions Dune: MessiahThe cast of is Duncan Idaho, the soldier of House Atreides who was killed after the Harkonnens’ invasion of Arrakis. He was a close friend of Paul, and that makes him a dangerous weapon in Dune: Messiah. He is revived by those who dispute Paul’s claim to the Golden Throne as ghola (a zombie-like creature that can be controlled by its creator), and used to infiltrate the Empire and carry out an assassination attempt on the young Emperor.
The return of Duncan Idaho in Dune: Messiah It’s one of the most exciting parts of the story. Her friendship with Paul is really tested in these moments, as the Emperor is once again torn between duty and desirenot knowing if he can fully trust his old friend. Idaho’s return also opens the door for a romantic subplot with Alia Atreides, who only plays a small role in the original book but could easily be developed into something more interesting in Villeneuve’s next film. Dune installment.