Fans of the epic Dune series were highly satisfied with Denis Villeneuve's 2021 adaptation and get to look forward to Dune: Part Two, which will finish the second half of the first novel and perhaps feature some scenes thought impossible to adapt to film. Along with this conclusion, comes the need to cast the tyrannical Padishah Emperor, Shaddam IV.
As emperors usually do in science-fiction and fantasy series, he's the apex predator of the galaxy and controls the spice, or so he thinks. Redditors have a plethora of suggestions as to who they think should play the Padishah Emperor; some to stay true to the books and some for the actor's villainous credits.
John Malkovich
Yolkpuke nominated John Malkovich as a candidate to play Dune's Padishah Emperor, "I think John Malkovich would be absolutely perfect. He has the gravitas and has proven he can play a scheming villain." They also give examples of Malkovich's roles in In the Line of Fire (1993) and Shadow of the Vampire (2000).
Malkovich has an outstanding resumé with two Academy Award nominations and is known for his acting range. He can do it all, from action roles in Con Air (1997), comedy in Zoolander 2 (2016), and even classic drama in Beowulf (2007). Malkovich playing the Emperor would definitely excite audiences.
Gary Oldman
Another suggestion from Yolkpuke is the legendary Gary Oldman, "He has played a plethora of different villains in his career and I could see him nailing this role." Nobody can deny the vast versatility that lines Oldman's acting credits and it's doubtful he would disappoint as the Emperor.
Other villains Oldman has embodied are Count Dracula in Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) alongside Winona Ryder, Ivan Korshunov in Air Force One (1997), and Zorg in The Fifth Element (1997). However, many will know him as the beloved Sirius Black in the Harry Potter films and Jim Gordan, one of Oldman's best movies, in Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy.
Kyle MacLachlan
Popular because of the cinematic irony of the idea, TheTeeJayGee mentions Kyle MacLachlan as having potential for playing Shaddam IV because he "would cause me to giggle uncontrollably in the theater."
For those who are new to the Dune universe and are only familiar with the recent adaptation, MacLachlan played Paul Atreides in David Lynch's Dune, released in 1984. Not only would this cameo be a call-back for true fans, but it would be an unexpected choice, which could build more anticipation.
Lee Pace
Xadriancalim got support when they suggested Lee Pace for the prestigious role but noted the complications, "If Lee Pace wasn't already doing it for Foundation…" The Apple TV+ adaptation of Isaac Asimov's book series features Pace as Brother Day, that universe's Emperor, who is considered one of Foundation's best characters.
Pace's ability to emit a strong, ominous aura through almost reserved characters makes his roles as villains all the darker. He played Ronan in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and, although not a villain, he was Thranduil in The Hobbit trilogy.
Mads Mikkelsen
One of the more popular nominations on Reddit is Mads Mikkelsen, mentioned by VoiceofRapture. They express the desire for "Mads Mikkelsen channelling [sic] Hannibal energy" as the Emperor.
Mikkelsen's resumé is impeccable and has plenty of villainous examples like his role as the iconic Dr. Hannibal Lecter in the television series Hannibal. His MCU debut as Kaecilius in Doctor Strange (2016) amazed audiences and showed his range as the protagonist Galen Erso in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which was released that same year.
Willem Dafoe
It would have been surprising if Willem Dafoe wasn't mentioned in this Reddit thread. Luckily, Cynical_Tripster noted that "William [sic] Dafoe could be an interesting cast." There's no question about Dafoe's talent and ability to induce deep emotions on the big screen, and his 4 Academy Award nominations are proof.
He's even played villains in both the MCU and DC movies. His infamous portrayal of Norman Osborn/The Green Goblin cannot be topped and rules Dafoe's best villain roles. He made his DC debut as Vulko in Aquaman (2018). Dafoe's acting is incredibly raw and unapologetic, which fits perfectly with Shaddam IV.
Hugo Weaving
Ozeor couldn't have summed it up any better when they posted "Hugo weaving. Dude is a straight up villain." If Weaving could win the role of the Padishah Emperor in the Dune franchise, it would be another of many epic franchises he's been an integral part of.
Among Weaving's prestigious credits are his roles as Elrond in the Lord of the Rings series, Agent Smith in The Matrix trilogy, and Red Skull in the MCU. What some may not know, however, is that Weaving was also V in V for Vendetta (2005) and was the voice of Megatron on the Transformers franchise movies.
Christian Bale
The Dark Knight himself was nominated by Timewalker102 because "then you can up the paranoia and derangement the Emperor has in the books." Anyone who's seen American Psycho (2000) knows very well that Bale is more than capable of playing a deranged, narcissistic villain so this is actually a great suggestion and it's argued by some that Bale was the perfect Batman.
Bale is also set to make his MCU debut later this year as the supervillain, Gorr the God Butcher, in Thor: Love and Thunder. Bale's commitment to his roles both mentally and physically encompasses the dedication that long-time Dune fans need for their Emperor.
Michael Shannon
Painting0125 notes that the Emperor could be "Easily Michael Shannon. He has a strong screen presence, an [sic] unmatched intensity that he eats every scene he's in." Shannon has an impressive 105 acting credits to back up this suggestion as well.
He played the awkward Nelson Van Alden in HBO's Boardwalk Empire, an FBI agent in the miniseries Waco, and the malicious General Zod in Man of Steel (2013). The variety of genres Shannon has been successful in strengthens his ability to embody such a complex character as the Padishah Emperor.
Damian Lewis
JVM23 posts that "Going off the book's description, I'd pick Damian Lewis." In the books, the Emperor is noted as having red hair, which matches Lewis's features. That accompanied by his fantastic acting talents definitely put him in the running for a top fan choice.
Lewis is also not particularly well-known just by name, but many will recognize him from HBO's Band of Brothers series, Showtime's Homeland, and more recently, Showtime's Billions. Quentin Tarantino fans may recognize him as the legendary Steve McQueen in Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood (2019).