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HBO Max‘s Dune ruled over the box office this weekend, taking in over $40 million in the United States and still uncounted streams on HBO Max. Folks were kvelling over Bene Gesserits, talking about Spice, and tweeting about how silly it was that the lead’s name was Paul. It also seems that director Denis Villeneuve left audiences wanting more, and we’re not just talking about the abrupt ending that leaves you desperate for the still un-made Dune Part Two. Namely: who is the Emperor in Dune (2021)?
Past adaptations introduced us early to Shaddam IV, but the 2021 Dune keeps the Emperor off-screen. So who is this Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV? What’s his deal? And does he have anything to do with the later Dune book, God Emperor of Dune? (Okay: spoiler, that’s a sequel that takes place far in the future and has nothing to do with Shaddam.)
Here’s everything you need to know about the Emperor in Dune, the off-screen ruler Shaddam IV…
Who is the Emperor in Dune? The Off-Screen Ruler Shaddam IV, Explained
While most of Dune follows the blood feud between Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgard) and Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac) erupting over possession of the planet Arrakis, it seems someone more powerful is pulling the strings. Emperor Shaddam IV, the leader of the known universe.
The Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV hails from House Corrino, one of the most powerful noble houses in Dune‘s history. Shaddam IV is the 81st person from his house to sit upon the Lion Throne and is notorious for, uh, letting all that inherited power dwindle real fast in his reign. As the popularity of Duke Leto and House Atreides rose among the noble houses, collectively known as the Landsraad, Shaddam grew more and more concerned that the houses would rally around House Atreides to depose him. Also adding to these fears? Shaddam’s Bene Gesserit wife Anirul only gave him five daughters — Irulan, Chalice, Wensicia, Josifa, and Rugi — instead of a son. (Note: Bene Gesserits can decide the sex of their unborn children and often do so under orders of the Bene Gesserit Kwisatz Haderach breeding program.)
So Shaddam IV is a powerful, jealous man armed with truthsayers and a wild cult of supersoldiers called Sardukar. What could possibly pose a threat to him? Except the actual arrival of the Kwisatz Haderach, hmm?
Who Could Play Shaddam IV in Dune Part Two?
Naturally, Dune Part One sets up a showdown between Paul and this mystery Emperor in Part Two. After all, House Atreides expected betrayal from the Harkonnens. It was the Emperor’s decision to send his own Sardukar to Arrakis that actually sealed the family’s fate and proved the Emperor unfit. Not only that, but Paul straight up says that his final play is to wed one of the Emperor’s unmarried daughters to take the throne. (The most famous princess is the still unseen Irulan, who has been previously played by Virginia Madsen and Julie Cox.)
So who should play Shaddam IV in Dune Part Two? Past onscreen Shaddams include Giancarlo Giannini and José Ferrer. Alejandro Jodorowsky famously wanted Salvador Dali in the part and even came close to making it happen! So we’re looking for someone with gravitas, but with a bit of a wild twist.
On Twitter, some popular fan casting for the gig include Bryan Cranston, Brian Cox, Mahershala Ali, Idris Elba, Ewan McGregor, Mads Mikkelsen and Kenneth Branagh. (Along with a lot of votes for Anya Taylor-Joy, Emma Mackey or Samara Weaving for Princess Irulan and the likes of Dane DeHaan, Bill Skarsgard, Barry Keoghan or Harry Styles for the Sting-tastic Harkonnen heir Feyd Rautha.)
For our money — or, I should say, my money — the Emperor has to be someone vaguely iconic. Someone with old school Hollywood gravitas with a chaotic twist. So I think Villeneuve should go crazy and bring back the O.G. Paul Atreides, Kyle MacLachlan as the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV. C’mon he’s got those matinee looks, that wild Lynchian vibe, and history with the franchise. It’s a meta choice, but could be super duper fun!