The first action figure from Denis Villeneuve's upcoming Dune film has been released at Target stores, giving fans a closer look at Stellan Skarsgård's villainous Baron Vladimir Harkonnen.The character -- who has been played by the likes of Kenneth McMillan in David Lynch's adaptation and was planned to be portrayed by Orson Welles in Alejandro Jodorowsky's famously scrapped version of the story -- is the gluttonous leader of the House Harkonnen. In Frank Herbert's book series, Harkonnen is known as the pedophilic penultimate ruler who helped established the dominance of his home planet Giedi Prime through deceit, and will likely play Paul Atreides' main adversary.
The action figure packaging describes the character as "an all-consuming force of malevolence, determined to feed his addiction to brutality."
Harkonnen's regal garb and weathered face is a departure from previous jollier, cherubicdepictions. His earth tone color palette seems to imply a likeness that's far less otherworldly, and the many belts he needs strapped around his large frame in order to retain mobility stay true to the book.
Instead of the wild red hair the character has been known to have, Skarsgård will play the character completely bald according to Villeneuve's vision. The director's costuming and overall artistic direction seems to be coming from the same vein as his critically successful Blade Runner sequel Blade Runner 2049.
For the 69-year-old Skarsgård, this will be his most famous villain role since 2011's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo directed by David Fincher. The Swedish actor will star alongside Timothee Chalamet as Paul Atreides, Jason Mamoa as Duncan Idaho and Zendaya Coleman as Chani, whose action figures have been teased on the back of the Harkonnen's packaging.
Source: Twitter