Christopher Walken will play the Emperor in Dune: Part Two

By Blair Marnell Updated May 12, 2022

Because director Denis Villeneuve decided to split Frank Herbert’s Dune into two movies, audiences have yet to meet Shaddam IV, Padishah Emperor of the Known Universe, and the man who betrayed House Atreides to their greatest enemies, House Harkonnen. In David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation of Dune, the Emperor was portrayed by José Ferrer. Now, Deadline is reporting that veteran actor Christopher Walken will play Emperor Shaddam IV in Dune: Part Two.

Walken’s career in Hollywood spans more than five decades and includes roles in Annie Hall, The Deer Hunter, The Dead Zone, A View To a Kill, True Romance, Pulp Fiction, and many more. Walken has also recently starred in two streaming shows: The Outlaws and Severance.

Florence Pugh was recently linked to the role of Shaddam IV’s daughter, Princess Irulan. However, that final casting has not yet been confirmed. The other major addition for the sequel is Austin Butler as the malevolent Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen.

Christopher Walken in The Outlaws. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Timothée Chalamet will reprise his role as Paul Atreides, the last heir of House Atreides. He will be joined by Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Zendaya as Chani, Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck, Javier Bardem as Stilgar, Stellan Skarsgård as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, and Dave Bautista as Beast Rabban Harkonnen.

Dune: Part One was able to amass $400 million worldwide despite a simultaneous release on HBO Max. That’s why Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment were so quick to green light the sequel. Villeneuve is currently writing the script and the sequel is expected to begin filming this fall.

Warner Bros. will release Dune: Part Two into theaters on October 20, 2023.

Topics

Blair Marnell has been an entertainment journalist for over 15 years. His bylines have appeared in Wizard Magazine, Geek…

Entertainment

Here’s why Dune: Part One is still better than Dune: Part Two

Two men stand next to each other in Dune.

After several years of hype and anticipation, Dune is back. Denis Villeneuve's mammoth adaptation of the Frank Herbert novel of the same name has gotten the sequel treatment, and Dune: Part 2 is receiving many of the same plaudits and praise that Part 1 received when it was released in 2021. It grossed over $80 million in its opening weekend, and is on the path to outdo its predecessor.

Now that we have two parts to compare, though, the natural question is which is better. While Part 2 is certainly more action forward, and a lot of the setup from Part 1 is paid off in the sequel, here are some reasons why Part 1 may still be the better movie.
Dune gave us our first look at Arrakis
Arrival To Arrakis | Dune (2021) [4K 60FPS]

Entertainment

5 movies starring the cast of Dune: Part Two you should watch right now

The cast of Dune: Part Two in a poster for the film.

After a strike-related delay pushed it into this year, director Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two is heating up the box office. Villeneuve clearly has an eye for talent, as this sci-fi epic boasts an all-star cast that includes Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, and Javier Bardem. And those are just a few of the topline stars!

Fortunately, Dune: Part Two isn't the only place to see these actors and actresses. All of the previously mentioned cast members have films that are readily available to stream. So, if you're looking for five movies starring the cast of Dune: Part Two, then these are the films that you should watch right now.
Watch Timothée Chalamet in Wonka

Entertainment

Like Dune 2? Then watch these 3 great sci-movies for free right now

David Walks through a robot factory in AI Artificial Intelligence.

Dune: Part Two is set to dominate theaters this weekend as hordes of moviegoers (who've endured the worst two months of movies in recent memory) eagerly return to the dusty world of Arrakis to catch up with Paul, Chani, Lady J(essica), and the rest of the gang. And who can blame them? The movie is already critically acclaimed and will surely be the blockbuster to watch in coming weeks.

Denis Villeneuve's big-budget sequel isn't the only sci-fi game in town, though. Streamers like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video have tons of sci-fi movies, but you have to pay for a subscription to access them. Do you want to watch great sci-fi movies that are just as good as Dune: Part Two for free? Digital Trends has compiled a list of three exceptional sci-fi films that are currently streaming on Tubi and YouTube. So sit back, tune in, and prepare to have your mind expanded beyond all comprehension.
Logan's Run (1976)