Dune 2 director Dennis Villeneuve teases details about Austin Butler's portrayal of the cunning and complex Feyd-Rautha in the upcoming epic.
SUMMARY
- Director Denis Villeneuve describes Austin Butler's portrayal of new villain Feyd-Rautha as a cross between a psychopath killer, an Olympic sword master, a snake, and Mick Jagger.
- Villeneuve and Butler aim to create a more intricate and divisive version of Feyd-Rautha compared to previous portrayals, with more complex motivations that audiences can empathize with.
- Dune 2, featuring Butler's highly anticipated Feyd-Rautha, is set to build on the success of its predecessor, although the release date has been pushed back to March 15, 2024, due to the SAG-AFTRA strike.
Dune 2 director Denis Villeneuve recently teased details about Austin Butler's portrayal of new villain Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen. Based on Frank Herbert’s novel of the same name, the epic follows the journey of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), a young and brilliant boy who must travel to a dangerous planet called Arrakis to ensure his family and his people's future. While Dune: Part One mainly focuses on setting up the narrative and establishing the world of Dune, the sequel looks to conclude Paul’s story, with the fearsome Feyd-Rautha playing Paul’s narrative foil in this highly anticipated conclusion.
Speaking to Empire, Villeneuve explains that Butler, the Oscar-nominated actor, puts on a dynamic and masterful performance as Feyd-Rautha, describing him as a “cross between a psychopath killer, an Olympic sword master, a snake, and Mick Jagger.” Read his full comment below: “Austin brought something that is a cross between a psychopath killer, an Olympic sword master, a snake, and Mick Jagger. He has tremendous sex appeal and charisma and madness. It’s really out there.”
What Else To Expect From Austin Butler’s Feyd-Rautha
Feyd-Rautha is an extremely key character in Frank Herbert’s original novel that both Villeneuve and Butler would hope to do justice. In David Lynch's 1984 adaptation, the devious villain was played by The Police frontman Sting, while Matt Keesla portrayed him in the 2000 miniseries Frank Herbert's Dune. There have been reports that Butler's portrayal of Baron Harkonnen’s younger nephew aims to be slightly more intricate and divisive than previous portrayals.
Butler previously revealed that Villeneuve tried to create a more complex version of Feyd-Rautha with more heroic motivations that audiences can empathize with. From the Dune 2 trailer, it also appears Villeneuve also decided to deviate from Feyd-Rautha's original look from both Herbert's novel, instead opting for a more monstrous appearance that's in line with the shaven look of both the Baron and Glossu Rabban.
With Dune: Part Two, Villeneuve would definitely be looking to build on the massive critical and commercial of its predecessor. While the movie was initially slated for a November 2023 release, the release date has been pushed back to March 15, 2024, due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. Therefore, the wait will be longer before Butler's unique and highly anticipated portrayal of Feyd-Rautha can be seen on the big screen. However, if Butler's previous performances are anything to go by, the wait should be worth it.
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