Dune 3’s Huge Role For Florence Pugh’s Irulan Teased By Denis Villeneuve

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Dune: Part Two!

Summary

• Florence Pugh’s role as Princess Irulan in
  Dune: Part Two
  is small but pivotal, setting the stage for a much bigger role in
  Dune 3
  , promises Denis Villeneuve.
• Irulan’s character becomes central in
  Messiah
  , consumed by jealousy and driven to ensure the Atreides bloodline legacy.
• Villeneuve compares Pugh’s role to Zendaya’s in the first movie, hinting at her significance in future installments.

Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve has teased a much bigger role for Florence Pugh should Dune 3 be greenlit. Following on from the 2021 movie, the second part of Villeneuve’s expansive adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal sci-fi novel is currently garnering rave reviews and even landing on IMDb’s list of highest-rated movies of all time. With Dune: Part Two adapting the second half of Herbert’s original book, the new movie introduces several new characters, including Pugh’s Princess Irulan Corrino, the eldest daughter of Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV (played by Christopher Walken).

Speaking with Moviefone, Villeneuve spoke about his decision to cast Pugh in the small, yet pivotal role and his hopes for her future return as he adapts Dune: Messiah. Likening her Dune: Part Two role to Zendaya’s limited screentime in the first movie, he says that if he gets the opportunity to make Dune 3,Pugh’s Irulan will go on to become one of the most “prominent characters of that whole series.” Check out his comments below:

First, Florence, of course, I knew Florence from her work, and I’m a big fan of Florence. I thought of her first for it and when I met her, it was clear after a few minutes of our meeting that I was in front of Princess Irulan. I wanted to create a character that will have inner strength and that will never be perceived as a victim. I wanted an actress that could convey only with the way she’s listening. I wanted someone with a strong presence that the audience could see just in the way she was witnessing events or listening to other characters, that they feel her presence on her own journey, but she’s more of a witness in this story. Of course, if there’s a ‘Dune Messiah’ as we plan, she’ll become one of the prominent characters of that whole series. I’m doing a bit of what I did with Zendaya in the first movie. I introduced Chani in ‘Dune’ and then she becomes one of the main characters in ‘Part Two.’ I do the same with Florence, I just introduced her in ‘Part Two’ and if there’s a ‘Dune Messiah,’ she becomes one of the main characters.

How Florence Pugh’s Irulan Becomes A Central Figure In Dune: Messiah

While the events of Dune: Part Two seeing Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides assume the Imperial throne of Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV and wed his daughter, their marriage ultimately proves to be less than cordial. Set 12 years after he first assumed the throne, Frank Herbert’s Dune: Messiah sees Princess Irulan consumed with jealously concerning Paul’s love for his Fremen concubine, Chani, and is desperate to be the first to provide her husband with an heir.

Even going so far as to secretly dose Chani with dangerous contraceptives to prevent her from conceiving a child, her schemes would ultimately fail and result in the death of Zendaya’s character as she gives birth to twins. However, heartbroken at the result of her actions, combined with Paul’s own self-imposed exile according to Fremen custom, Irulan later dedicates her life to guiding her newfound stepchildren and ensuring the continuing legacy of the Atreides bloodline alongside Paul’s sister Alia (Anya Taylor-Joy).

Given Pugh’s proven strengths as a performer, Irulan’s future storyline will likely provide her with plenty of opportunity to showcase her true talents, despite the abbreviated role her character has in Dune: Part Two. While it is not yet clear whether Warner Bros. will officially greenlight Villeneuve’s plans for Dune 3, the overwhelmingly positive response to his latest installment bodes well for his chances.

Source: Moviefone