Christopher Walken is the latest addition to the star-studded cast of Dune: Part Two. Per Deadline, the Academy Award-winning actor will play the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV of House Corrino in the film. José Ferrer previously played the character in Dune (1984). The Emperor was briefly mentioned in 2021’s Dune and remained unseen in the film. However, it was by his order that Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac) of House Atreides was sent to take control of the desert planet Arrakis from House Harkonnen, thus beginning the conflict between the two houses.
This news comes after the recent announcement of Florence Pugh and Austin Butler’s casting in Dune: Part Two. Pugh will be playing Princess Irulan, the Emperor’s daughter, while Butler will play Feyd-Rautha, the psychopathic nephew of Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård). Sting famously portrayed the character in the 1984 film. Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, and Josh Brolin will be reprising their roles in Dune: Part Two. Denis Villeneuve will direct the film from a screenplay he co-wrote with Jon Spaihts.
While Walken’s casting may come as a surprise to fans of Frank Herbert’s book, since the Emperor is described as young for his age, looking no older than 35 even though he is 72 years old. But Walken, 79, remains one of Hollywood’s finest actors, and Villeneuve must be on to something if he’s decided to bring aboard The Deer Hunter actor. Perhaps Walken will be de-aged. But knowing Villeneuve and his commitment to minimal CGI, that’s very unlikely. Another leading fan choice was Charles Dance, 75, especially after his commanding performance as Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones.
But Walken will no doubt shine in the role of the ruthless and cold Emperor Shaddam IV.
Denis Villeneuve Has Called Dune: Part Two The Biggest Challenge Of His Career
Dune has set the bar way too high for sci-fi films, and as such, Dune: Part Two will have tons of expectations when it arrives next October. But Denis Villeneuve and the rest of the cast and crew of Dune are returning for the sequel and have promised that Part Two will surpass the first film. In a recent interview, Villeneuve described Dune: Part Two as his "biggest challenge."
"It's gonna be intense. I'm in prep right now. Monday morning, as soon as we leave Los Angeles, it will be to start to go on with prep. I cannot say nothing about the movie – I don't like to talk about projects as I am doing them – but it's probably going to be the biggest challenge of my career, again, because it's even more complex than Part One."
While Dune wasn’t too complex, unlike the books, which are incredibly hard to grasp, it was quite atmospheric and slow. However, the pacing and the run time were completely intentional in order to introduce the audience to this mesmerizing new world and characters. But Villeneuve has promised that Dune: Part Two will be more action-packed, or in his words, "more cinematic."
"The difference is just that Dune: Part One, of course, is like an introduction to a world where we explain who is who, who is doing what, and what is the technology? What is the culture here? The second movie, I think, will be an opportunity to have much more fun. In a way, it will be more cinematic. That's what I can say."
Dune: Part Two is set to commence production this summer and will premiere exclusively in theaters on October 20, 2023.