Denis Villeneuve’sDune: Part Twohas already become the smash hit of 2024. The follow-up to 2021’sDune, the sequel adapts the second half of Frank Herbert’s monolithic sci-fi epic – the book that would go on to inspire many aspects ofStar Wars,Mad Max, andNausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind, among many others. While the film has the weight of a beloved franchise, Villeneuve’s outstanding reputation as a filmmaker, and a questionable popcorn bucket driving its marketing, a small portion of its success is thanks to some marketing trickery. And it wouldn’t be the first time.
It’s safe to say thatDune: Part Twofeatures one of thebest ensemble castsin modern cinema. It’s a collective that calls back to ensemble films likeThe Lord of the Ringstrilogy. The cast features an eclectic mix of Hollywood vets like Stellan Skarsgård, Christopher Walken, and Javier Bardem, alongside the new vanguard of young acting talent, including Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Austin Butler. The cast was a major aspect of the marketing for both movies, but the marketing teams played fast and loose with disclosing just how much certain actors would appear in the films.
Dune: Part Two
The year is 2021. You’ve just sat down in your local cinema and are anxious to see howDenis Villeneuve will adapt a novelthat many consider to be un-adaptable. You’ve had Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya dominate social media for months before its release and then, Zendaya’s character, Chani, is barely in the film.
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While it didn’t detract from audiences consideringDuneto be a masterpiece of the sci-fi genre – and a vast improvement over David Lynch’s adaptation attempt from 1984 – some audiences felt misled by the film’s marketing approach. For months, Zendaya’s role as the pivotal Fremen warrior, Chani, was hyped as if she were one of the leading characters in the film. That was until her appearance was reduced to a couple of dream sequences and a few scenes towards the end. In the new equivalent of a post-credit scene, Chani was used as the glue that would tieDuneinto its inevitable sequel.
Dune: Part Twosaw many notable actors join the cast, including the aforementioned Walken, Skarsgard, and Butler, along with Florence Pugh and Léa Seydoux. In that mix wasThe Queen’s Gambitstar Anya Taylor-Joy,whose mystery roleformed a large part of the marketing strategy for the sequel. The internet was ablaze with rumors and speculation surrounding her mystery character. Would she play a fan-favorite, or was her role an original creation devised by Villeneuve? Then, the film was released, and audiences realized she had very minuscule screen time.
Yes, Anya Taylor-Joy does portray animportant and beloved character, just not in the form you might imagine. Many expected to see the actress stand alongside Paul Atreides or battle with the Fremen. But audiences were left baffled when Anya Taylor-Joy’s role amounted to providing the voice for a cognitively advanced fetus. After drinking the Water of Life, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson)’s unborn child, Alia Atreides, begins telekinetically speaking to her, with Taylor-Joy providing the voice. Alia’s future in the series was teased slightly further when Anya Taylor-Joy appeared in person for a 5-second vision. However, that is the extent of Anya Taylor-Joy’s screen time inDune: Part Two.
Anya Taylor-Joy Will Have a Much Larger Role in Dune: Messiah
Some fans were expectedly upset that Warner Bros. had used the same marketing trick twice. Anya Taylor-Joy’s mystery character was used as narrative glue betweenDune: Part Twoand the upcomingDune: Messiah,which will round out the trilogy. Of course, to fans of the book, Alia’s portrayal inDune: Part Twowas no surprise. However, seeing an actress as big as Anya Taylor-Joy reduced to a handful of voice-overs was surprising for casual audiences. Just asChani’s role grewfrom select cameos inDuneto becoming one of the sequel’s most important characters, so will Alia’s inDune: Messiah.
Having undergone the same test as her mother and consuming the Water of Life, Alia has an intellect surpassing many adults, despite the character only being four years old throughout most of the series. Alia becomes a major ally of Paul’s, able to use her superior intellect to give House Atreides a tactical advantage in the Holy War to come. Of course, Anya Taylor-Joy is a little past portraying a 4-year-old. Denis Villeneuve had to alter some aspects of her character for her to appear in Paul’s vision inDune: Part Two. However, this doesn’t detract from how pivotal the character will be in the future of the franchise as the ‘Guiding Voice’ of House Atreides.
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There is currently no timeframeregardingDune: Messiah’s productionschedule, with many fans believing that Villeneuve will take a break between installments. Therefore, it may be some years before we witness Alia’s character take the spotlight inDune: Messiah.Dune: Part Twois currently playing in theaters.
