The eccentric Christopher Walken has reportedly joined the cast of Dune Part 2 in the role of Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV. He will be the ruler of the galaxy and the father of Florence Pugh‘s character, Princess Irulan Corrino.
Christopher Walken is a living legend and a beloved character actor, while Pugh and Austin Butler are two of the hottest young stars in Hollywood right now. Butler is set to explode by playing the King of Rock, Elvis Presley, in Baz Luhrman’s Elvis biopic. In Dune Part 2, he plays the villainous Feyd-Rautha, the nephew of Emperor Shaddam. All three will make their Dune debuts in Part 2.
Jose Ferrer portrayed Emperor Shaddam in the 1984 David Lynch-directed film adaptation.
“The Real Universe Is Always One Step Beyond Logic”
In the original story, by Frank Herbert, Emperor Shaddam suspects that the House Atreides will overthrow him, so he aligns himself with House Harkonnen, headed up by Feyd-Rautha. Meanwhile, the Emperor’s daughter, Irulan marries Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and chronicles his life in written tomes.
The first Dune featured an all-star cast that included Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem. Denis Villeneuve will return to direct, co-write, and produce. Jon Spaihts will also co-write.
Filming begins this summer in Budapest, and Dune Part 2 already has a theatrical release date of October 20, 2023.
The first Dune was a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was released day and date in theaters and on HBO Max. Even so, it grossed $400 million worldwide on just ticket sales, scoring a $41 million opening weekend (higher than anticipated), and scored 10 Academy Award nominations, taking home six Oscars, the most of any movie at this year’s ceremony. The sequel was greenlit just weeks after the first premiered. It seems that Warner Bros. wanted to wait and see how the first did before approving a sequel.
Dune Part 2 will premier in theaters only on October 20, 2023. Check back for updates!
