Christopher Walken has landed a key role in the upcoming sequel “Dune: Part Two” where he will portray Emperor Shaddam IV…
“Dune: Part Two” has found its emperor.
Christopher Walken has been cast as Emperor Shaddam IV — the ruler of the Known Universe and the person most singularly responsible for the death of Duke Leto Atreides as well as his attempt to topple House Atreides out of fear that his adoptive cousin might one day overthrow his reign.
Walken joins a stacked cast that includes returning cast members such as Timothee Chalamet as Paul Atreides, Zendaya as Chani, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Javier Bardem as Stilgar and Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck.
In the original books from writer Frank Herbert, Emperor Shaddam IV was concerned that Duke Leto Atreides was gaining too much favor as a respectable and honorable king on his home planet of Caladan. So the Emperor conspired with House Harkonnen — a rival house to House Atreides — and together they sent Duke Leto and his family to oversee the the desert planet of Arrakis where the valuable spice known as melange was mined.
It was all a set up to divide House Atreides before the Emperor along with House Harkonnen launched an attack that led to Duke Leto’s death and the downfall of his army. Of course, the Emperor didn’t anticipate that Duke Leto’s son Paul and his mother Lady Jessica would survive while also teaming up with the Fremen — an underground group native to Arrakis, who suffered greatly while being ruled by House Harkonnen.
“Dune: Part 1” ended with Paul and his mother being saved by the Fremen after House Harkonnen failed to kill them both, which will now lead into the battle head for “Dune: Part Two” with production kicking off this summer.
Alongside Walken as the Emperor, new cast members include Florence Pugh, who will play his daughter Princess Irulan and Austin Butler, who plays Feyd-Rautha — the ruthless nephew of Baron Harkonnen who is being groomed as his successor to rule over Arrakis.
Walken joins “Dune: Part Two” fresh off rave reviews of his role in the recent Apple TV hit series “Severance” as well as the upcoming Amazon Prime series “The Outlaws” that debuts in June.
“Dune: Part Two” is expected to get into production this summer under the watchful eye of director Denis Villeneuve.
