Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Frank Herbert's seminal sci-fi epic, Dune, has been a resounding success both critically and financially, with the much anticipated second part confirmed and scheduled for a 2023 release. While most fans have already come to predict as much, Villeneuve has confirmed that Dune: Part 2 will feature the character of Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen.
The accomplished director's choice to adapt only the first half of the book was a risky one where pandemic conditions made the success of the movie - and thus the possibility of the second part - uncertain. Luckily, audiences flocked to the production both in theatres and streaming platforms, so the continuation recieved the green light.
One side effect of adapting half the book is that Villeneuve had to decide on where to split the story, and what elements to leave out. Among these is a key character, Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, nephew of the baron. When the first part didn't cast anyone in the role, some fans assumed that in a change from the source material this character and that of Rabban - played by Dave Bautista - would be merged. Luckily, this is not the case. Definitely. That's a choice that I personally brought on. There was enough characters that were introduced in this first part, and it will be more elegant to keep Feyd for Part Two. It will be definitely a very, very important character in the second part. Denis Villeneuve has confirmed that Feyd-Rautha will appear in Dune 2. Played by Sting in David Lynch's 1984 adaptation, the character is a foil to Paul Atreides who is important to the plot as another result of the centuries-long Bene Gesserit breeding program of which Paul was also born.
