The expansive Dune universe was launched in Frank Herbert's classic 1965 novel Dune, and many more books followed, not to mention some live-action adaptations. Director David Lynch's 1984 feature Dune brought this universe to life with actors such as Patrick Stewart and Kyle MacLachlan, and much later, director Denis Villeneuve took over the franchise with his 2021 feature Dune.
The new Dune movie is a fresh reboot of the Dune live-action franchise, and it stars many notable and popular actors and actresses for characters such as Duke Leto Atreides, Lady Jessica, Chani the Fremen, and far more. Moviegoers who watch Dune will recognize these talented actors from other quality movies, some of which are also from the sci-fi genre.
Warning: This article contains spoilers for Dune.
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One of the main characters of Dune will be Duke Leto Atreides, the head of the Atreides Great House and the father of Dune's true hero, Paul. Duke Leto is under a lot of stress, but he is doing his best to protect his family and keep the spice Melange flowing.
He is portrayed by actor Oscar Isaac, who played the ace pilot Poe Dameron in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. He also made an appearance in Zack Snyder's Sucker Punch, and he played Apocalypse in X-Men: Apocalypse.
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Duke Leto's loving wife is Lady Jessica Atreides, and she is loyal both to the Atreides family and to the Bene Gesserit order, of which she is a member. Jessica cherishes her son Paul, and she actually defied orders from her superiors when she conceived him. Now she must risk her life to defend him.
Lady Jessica is played by Swedish actress Rebecca Ferguson, who had a role in Men in Black: International, as well as a role in Mission Impossible - Fallout and other Mission features, including the upcoming Mission: Impossible 7.
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Gurney Halleck is a Warmaster for the Atreides family, one of many professions found in the Dune universe. Gurney is tough and unforgiving, and he suffered deep physical and mental scars at the hands of the cruel Harkonnen family. He won't soon forget what they did to him and his sister.
Gurney is played by Josh Brolin, who is famous for portraying Thanos the Mad Titan in The Avengers: Infinity War and The Avengers: Endgame. He has been in many movies since the 1980s, including Sicario, Deadpool 2, and Men in Black 3.
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Rabban is an antagonist in the story of Dune, serving the vicious and greedy Baron Vladimir Harkonnon in many ways. Rabban helps the Baron oversee the spice mining operations on Arrakis, and he doesn't mind killing the native Fremen, either. But not even a brute like him would take on the mighty sandworms.
Rabban is portrayed by Dave Bautista, who brought Drax the Destroyer to life in the MCU. Mr. Bautista also had a role in Blade Runner 2049 as Sapper Morton, a replicant. He also had a role in 2013's Riddick.
6 Jason Momoa Played Aquaman
Duncan Idaho is a Ginaz Swordmaster who is utterly loyal to the Atreides family, and he and Gurney Halleck provide the backbone of the family's military might. Duncan has a better sense of humor than Gurney, but he still takes his job seriously, and he'll gladly give his life to protect Paul, Jessica, and Leto.
Duncan's actor is Jason Momoa, who is noted for portraying Aquaman, the superhero in several DCEU movies. Besides that, he also appeared in HBO's Game of Thrones as Khal Drogo.
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Timothée Chalamet ranks among the youngest actors to appear in Denis Villeneuve's Dune, and he plays the young hero himself, Paul Atreides. In the original book, Paul was a boy of just 15, though he was closer to 17 or 18 by the end. This might be Mr. Chalamet's big breakout role.
Mr. Chalamet hasn't appeared in many blockbusters before, but he did have a minor role in director Christopher Nolan's Interstellar, playing a young Tom Cooper. He also appeared in Hot Summer Nights.
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The primary antagonist of Dune is the Baron, Vladimir Harkonnen, and he has big plans for his Atreides rivals on the desert world of Dune. He is greedy, manipulative, and cruel, and he will gladly turn Leto's allies against him to achieve victory.
Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard portrays the villainous Baron in Dune, and he is also known for playing Dr. Erik Selvig in the MCU, especially in the three Thor movies. In addition, Mr. Skarsgard appeared in a variety of Swedish movies since the 1970s, and he had a role in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, as Martin Vanger.
3 Charlotte Rampling Has Appeared In Countless Movies
English actress Charlotte Rampling has been in cinema since the 1960s, and her latest role is that of Gaius Helem Mohiam, a Reverend Mother in the Bene Gesserit order and the mother of Jessica Atreides. She is the one who administers the Gom-Jabbar test to Paul early in the movie.
Charlotte Rampling has appeared in a wide variety of American, Canadian, and European movies, from Red Sparrow and Assassin's Creed to The Fourth Angel, among many more. She has also appeared in a handful of TV series.
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Chani is a young woman of the desert, a Fremen who is used to hardship and challenges in the dry desert badlands. She will meet Paul Atreides in Dune as an ally and friend, and she will play an even bigger role in the lore after that. Chani's actress is none other than Zendaya.
Zendaya is noted for playing MJ, Peter Parker's love interest in the Spider-Man movies of the MCU. She also appeared in The Greatest Showman and Malcolm & Marie, along with a small handful of TV roles, including several appearances as herself.
1 Javier Bardem Was In No Country For Old Men
Stilgar is a Fremen tribal leader, or a Naib, and he is an ally of the Atreides family, especially Leto and Paul. He will help serve as an ambassador for the Fremen to Paul, particularly his own tribe, Sietch Tabr. He is portrayed by Spanish actor Javier Bardem.
Mr. Bardem's filmography stretches back to 1990, including a wide variety of Spanish movies and some American features, including No Country For Old Men as Anton Chigurh. He also appeared in Skyfall as Raoul Silva the villain.