Warning: This article contains spoilers for Dune

Baron Harkonnen in 2021's Dune appears to be incredibly powerful, but just how much power and influence does he truly wield? Played by Stellan Skarsgård, Harkonnen makes a secret deal with Dune's Emperor to wipe out House Atreides. This leads to an attempt on his life that demonstrates the tools he has on display.

In Dune, through Dr. Yueh's betrayal, House Harkonnen and the Emperor's Sardaukar troops invade Arrakis, wiping out a sizable portion of House Atreides' forces and capturing Duke Leto. With the help of Dr. Yueh, however, Leto unleashes a poison gas by crushing a fake tooth that kills him and several of the Baron's court members, including House Harkonnen's Mentant Pietr De Vries. Baron Harkonnen uses floating technology to escape death but is still affected by the gas, forcing him to remain confined to a medical bath for treatment.

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The presentation of the Baron as a major villain in Dune, and one of gargantuan proportions at that, alongside his survival all beg the question of how powerful he really is. While the Baron is simply a mortal man, House Harkonnen's technology and his calculated manipulation give him a greater level of power than many of his rivals. His vast wealth and scheming nature allow him to assert great influence within Dune's galaxy, which combined with his brutality and sadism make him incredibly dangerous.

Baron Harkonnen standing up from his chair facing his mentat in Dune (2021).

Baron Harkonnen has also turned his size into an advantage. As mentioned, Baron Harkonnen uses floating technology, known as suspensor belts, to move around. Though he is able to walk in the books and this technology is used exclusively in the films, it shows a method as to how he is able to survive in otherwise life-threatening situations. Dune's Baron floating through the use of the suspensor belts allows for a significant advantage in defending himself, giving him an escape route from many situations and making him a more unique foe to deal with.

Along with the technology he puts to use, the Baron is a master manipulator. This is particularly true in regards to how he is able to manufacture the fall of House Atreides, which he does by pressuring Dr. Yueh to betray his house on the condition the Baron free his captive wife. Though Yueh engineers an assassination attempt against him, Baron Harkonnen is still able to plot the fall of his enemies. Furthermore, his manipulations extend to his own family. Though not adapted in Denis Villeneuve's films yet, book readers of Dune know that his nephew, Feyd Rautha, orchestrates a plot to overthrow the Baron. Thinking this will teach him some valuable political lessons, the Baron lets the conspiracy happen, then orders Feyd to kill his slaves when it fails, showing just how hard he is to take down.

Dune's Baron Harkonnen is a formidable foe because he has the manipulation skills and the technological resources to aid him in his quest for complete domination. Though Leto's assassination attempt proves he isn't completely infallible, the power at his disposal makes him an incredible threat. Though the source material leaves the Baron's fate set in stone, it will still be interesting to see how it will translate to screen in Dune: Part 2's story.

Next: Dune 2 Makes The Original Movie Much Better

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