British singer-songwriter and actor Harry Styles was also in contention for the role of Feyd-Rautha, for Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part II. After multiple COVID-related delays, Dune released across the world in October 2021. The film was the latest adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal science-fiction novel, but it only covered the first half of the book. After months of speculation as to whether or not the follow-up would be greenlit, Dune: Part II was eventually confirmed shortly after the first movie's release, after the critical and commercial success of Dune became apparent.
Dune: Part II will follow on from the ending of Dune, which saw Paul Atreides and his mother Lady Jessica (Timothee Chalamet and Rebecca Ferguson) join with Arrakis’s native Fremen, in the aftermath of the brutal Harkonnen attack on the planet. In Herbert’s source material, Feyd-Rautha is the nephew of the villainous Baron Harkonnen, and heir to the Harkonnen empire. The character is a similar age to Paul, and is seen as his primary nemesis. He plays a significant role in the second half of the story, including coming into direct confrontation with the young Atreides. Austin Butler, who starred in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, is reportedly in negotiations to take on the role opposite Chalamet.
Now, Kyle Buchanan of The New York Times reports that Harry Styles was one of the names in the running for the role of Feyd-Rautha. In a post to Twitter, Buchanan stated that “I know they also looked at Harry Styles”. As well as revealing that Styles being considered, Buchanan also dropped the news that Tye Sheridan’s name was included in conversations about the casting. Check out the full post below:
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Since Dune: Part II was confirmed last year, there's been speculation on who would be cast in the role of Feyd-Rautha, with names like Barry Keoghan and Robert Pattinson often appearing in the mix. Some will be surprised that Styles' name was part of the discussions, though the singer has been making the transition to acting for almost half a decade. The role of Feyd-Rautha would have been one of Styles' biggest roles so far, following on from his portrayal of Eros in the MCU’s Eternals. As of yet the actor hasn’t portrayed an antagonist in a film, which would have made his casting both an interesting challenge for the actor, and an unknown quantity for audiences.
As the cast of Dune: Part II begins to take shape with new additions, including the potential of Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, viewers will have a more concrete image of Villeneuve’s vision for the second half of the story. This, alongside Dune’s success and an impressive number of Academy Award nominations, means that Dune: Part II will have a lot to live up to as expectations reach new heights. While Styles might not have secured the part of Feyd-Rautha, if the Dune series continues beyond Dune: Part II, there could be more opportunities for him to set foot on Arrakis in the future.
Source: Kyle Buchanan
