The House of Atreides has gained an ally.
Léa Seydoux has joined “Dune Part Two” in the critical role of Lady Margot, a vital ally to Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) in his war with the House of Harkonnen.
Director Denis Villenueve is set to start filming on the sequel to “Dune” later this year, with Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Stellan Skarsgard and Dave Bautista set to reprise their roles. They will be joined by new actors Austin Butler (as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, heir to the House of Harkonnen), Christopher Walken (as Emperor Shaddam IV) and Florence Pugh (as the Emperor’s daughter, Princess Irulan). Villenueve is co-writing the screenplay with Jon Spaihts.
In Frank Herbert’s novel “Dune,” Lady Margot factors into the story early on, when she leaves a critical warning to Paul’s mother Lady Jessica (Ferguson) about the treachery that awaits them on Arrakis after House Atreides takes over from House Harkonnen. That sequence didn’t make Villenueve’s movie, but as a member of the Bene Gesserit, Lady Margot does have a major part to play in the second half of the story, involving Feyd-Rautha and her husband, Count Fenring (a role that has yet to be cast).
More to come.