Dune director Denis Villeneuve has teased the possible return of several familiar faces, as well as the arrival of certain, crucial new ones in upcoming sequel Dune: Part 2. When asked whether the likes of Duncan Idaho, Thufir Hawat, and Duke Leto would be seen again in the follow-up, Villeneuve kept his cards close to his chest while suggesting that he will continue to make certain changes when continuing his adaptation of Frank Herbert's seminal sci-fi novel.

"Well, that is a major spoiler! As Timothée [Chalamet] kept saying, the book has been out there for 60 years, it's a very well known story - but yes, some will reappear out of the dust. Part Two will be such a cinematic treat. Making Part One for me was just to [set] the table, you know? And to explain the cultures and the background of all the different planets and civilizations. And then to have that chance, now that everything is set, Part Two will be just an amazing playground. It will be so fun to do."

One character who Dennis Villeneuve was willing to confirm however is Feyd-Rautha, the younger nephew and heir of the Baron Vladimir Harkonnen and formidable warrior, who proves to be an integral presence in the continuing journey of Paul Atreides. Asked whether Feyd would feature in Dune: Part 2, the filmmaker said...

"Definitely. That's a choice that I personally brought on. There was enough characters that were introduced in this first part, and it will be more elegant to keep Feyd for Part Two. It will be definitely a very, very important character in the second part."

Portrayed by Sting in director David Lynch's 1984 adaptation of Dune, we still don't yet know who has been given the honor of playing Feyd-Rautha in Villeneuve's highly anticipated sequel, though there have been murmurs that Eternals star Barry Keoghan may be in consideration for the coveted role, with the actor recently that he would "love to work with Denis, Denis Villeneuve, definitely."

Starring Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya, David Dastmalchian, Chang Chen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem, Dune: Part 1 hurls audiences into the far future of humanity, as Duke Leto Atreides accepts stewardship of the dangerous desert planet Arrakis, the only source of the most valuable substance in the universe, "melange" AKA "spice"). Though Leto knows the opportunity is an intricate trap set by his enemies, he takes his concubine Lady Jessica and young son and heir Paul to Arrakis. Not long after their arrival, a bitter betrayal leads Paul and Jessica to the Fremen, natives of Arrakis who live in the deep desert.

After some concern that Dune: Part 2 would never happen, the sequel has now been confirmed, with production eyeing to begin filming from July 2022. One thing we do know about the sequel is that it will elevate Zendaya's character, Chani, to the lead. "I can't wait to shoot the second part of Dune to get [Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya] back together," Villeneuve revealed. "Knowing that in the next chapter Zendaya will be the protagonist of the story."

Dune was simultaneously released theatrically and streaming on HBO Max on October 22, 2021. Dune: Part Two meanwhile is now scheduled to hit theaters on October 20, 2023. This comes to us from Empire.