‘Dune: Part 2’ – Austin Butler in Talks to be Feyd-Rautha

Austin Butler in 'The Shannara Chronicles.'

With production penciled in for later this year, it’s clear that ‘Dune’ director Denis Villeneuve is busy building the additional cast he needs for ‘Part Two’.

On Tuesday, we learned that ‘Black Widow’s Florence Pugh had entered talks to play Princess Irulan, daughter of the ‘Dune’ universe’s emperor. Today brings word that Austin Butler is in negotiation to be Feyd-Rautha.

If the character’s name has you scratching your head, especially since he didn’t appear in the first ‘Dune’ movie, fear not.

Created by author Frank Herbert for the original ‘Dune’ novel, Feyd-Rautha is the younger nephew of Baron Vladimir Harkonnen of House Harkonnen (played in the first movie by Stellan Skarsgard). He’s nominated by the Baron as the "Na-Baron" – heir to House Harkonnen.

The Baron favors the young Feyd-Rautha over Feyd's older brother "The Beast" Glossu Rabban (Dave Bautista in the movie). Feyd is both intelligent and charismatic and is dedicated to the Harkonnen culture of sadism and cruelty, though potentially only due to his upbringing.

Though Villeneuve and co-writer Jon Spaihts had considered including the character in the first movie, they’ve deemed it more useful to shift him to the second, since he’ll be a big part of causing more trouble for Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet, who will return for the new movie).

Sting in 'Dune' (1984)

Like Paul, Feyd was also part of the complex, politically savvy genetic breeding program run by the mysterious Bene Gesserit order of powerful women.
We’re sure the Beast won’t be too happy with the younger whippersnapper coming in.

And if you are aware of him, it’s likely you’re either a big fan of the book, or you recall Sting’s leather/rubber getup from when he played the part in David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation.

We can’t speak to whether there will be more oiled up action going on here, but Villeneuve’s take on the Harkonnen hasn’t shied away from either rubber costumes or characters submerged in liquid. So, you never know!

‘Dune: Part Two’ continues the story of Paul and his mother Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) as they regroup from the devastating attack on the Atreides base on Arrakis (the planet also known as Dune) by Harkonnen and Imperial forces.

Fleeing into the harsh Arrakis desert along with the native Fremen (including leader Stilgar, played by Javier Bardem) and warrior Chani (Zendaya), they’ll survive while plotting a reprisal, as Paul becomes a spiritual and military leader among the Fremen.

Skarsgard and Josh Brolin (as Atreides weapons master Gurney Halleck) are both expected to return alongside their fellow first movie cast mates.

Austin Butler as Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann's 'Elvis.' Photo Courtesy of Warner Bros.

This would mark the latest big role for Butler, who had been acting for a few years before broke out in Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’. He’s since scored the prime lead part of Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Elvis’, which will cover large chunks of the musical icons career, the political figure with which he came into contact and his complicated relationship with manager Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks).

‘Elvis’ will be in theaters on June 24. ‘Dune: Part Two’ is currently set for release on October 20 next year.