Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Dune: Part Two!
Summary
- Austin Butler's portrayal of Feyd-Rautha in Dune: Part Two is intense, terrifying, and dominates every scene he's in.
- While Butler's limited screen time may disappoint some, his impactful performance enhances the character's eerie presence.
- The decision to limit Feyd-Rautha's role may have actually strengthened his on-screen impact in Villeneuve's adaptation of Dune.
One of the most important features of Dennis Villeneuve's sci-fi epic Butler's powerful portrayal of the brutal Feyd-Rautha was a highlight of the film, which makes his seemingly late introduction all the more baffling.
Villeneuve's Dune movies stick fairly close to the original source material, Frank Herbert's 1965 novel of the same name. As with any movie adaptation of a written work, there are some major changes to characters and story arcs for the sake of presenting well on the screen. Given Butler's unsettling portrayal of the sociopathic Feyd-Rautha and his rapid ascension as one of Hollywood's most talented young actors, it seems peculiar that the character's role wouldn't be adapted or expanded further for the sake of the film, which is breaking records with its Rotten Tomatoes score.
Dune 2 Waits A Long Time To Introduce Austin Butler's Feyd-Rautha
Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen isn't introduced until roughly the halfway point of the movie.
Butler's performance helps his character truly dominate each scene he's included in.
Roughly the first half of Dune: Part Two focuses on Paul Atreides learning the ways of the Fremen, and excelling enough to earn his own war name, Muad'Dib. Butler's Feyd-Rautha isn't introduced until well after Paul and the Fremen have thoroughly derailed spice production, which was being overseen by the brutish and violent Rabban Harkonnen. Feyd-Rautha is presented as the solution to House Harkonnen's problems on Arrakis, and the character's interactions with those around him prove just how cunning and devious he is. Butler's performance helps his character truly dominate each scene he's included in.
In David Lynch's 1984 version of Dune, Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen is played by the legendary musical artist and actor, Sting.
Austin Butler's Feyd-Rautha Is One Of The Best Parts Of Dune 2
Feyd-Rautha provides a terrifying antagonist and evil rival to Paul Atreides.
While Austin Butler is most famous for playing the king of cool himself, Elvis Presley, in the 2022 biopic about the legendary musician, he unleashes an entirely different persona in his portrayal of Feyd-Rautha. Butler's bald, eyebrowless Dune: Part Two appearance serves as a striking contrast from his typical classic Hollywood good looks, and the 32-year-old backs it up with an unsettling and terrifying performance. While each member of House Harkonnen is inherently scary due to their violent nature and pale, hairless countenance, Butler's intimidating subtlety is what makes his character stand out in the film.
Dune 2's "Unrecognizable" Feyd-Rautha Is Already Better Than The Original
Austin Butler's severe look as Dune: Part Two's Feyd-Rautha has led to some complaints, but it's already a vast improvement on Sting's version.
He truly provides an essential antagonistic counterpart to the handsome and charismatic Paul Atreides.
Butler's Feyd-Rautha was heavily featured in the film's promotion despite his somewhat limited screen time (compared to other primary cast ). While part of that is due to Butler's current box office drawing power, it's also because of the impact his role has on the overarching story. While House Harkonnen acts as the larger enemy of Paul and the Fremen, Butler's Feyd-Rautha acts as the point of the spear. He truly provides an essential antagonistic counterpart to the handsome and charismatic Paul Atreides, which is what makes him one of the best parts of Dune: Part Two.
Both David Lynch's Dune and Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part One are currently available to stream on Max.
Austin Butler's Performance Makes Dune 2's Feyd-Rautha Role More Disappointing
More screen time would have been great, but it may have detracted from Feyd-Rautha's impact.
Every time Feyd-Rautha is on the screen, it's immediately clear that something significant is occurring.
With Butler delivering such a captivating performance, it's hard not to be disappointed that he didn't get more screen time. However, with only a few key scenes featuring Butler's Feyd-Rautha, it might have taken away from how powerful each scene was. If the audience gets "used to" the unsettling character, then the frightening nature of Feyd-Rautha could have been minimized. Every time Feyd-Rautha is on the screen, it's immediately clear that something significant is occurring, and it allows the viewer to truly sit up and take notice, which is a good thing considering the movie's near-three-hour run time.
In the novel, Feyd-Rautha was originally supposed to marry the daughter of House Atreides to end their family's feud and all but guarantee the imminent coming of the Kwisatz Haderach, but Lady Jessica defied the Bene Gesserit's orders and birthed a son instead (Paul).
It's also difficult to be too disappointed considering that Feyd-Rautha's role in the source material is accurately represented. All the key characteristics of the character are adequately addressed, including his fighting prowess, his ambition, and the value of his genetic material as part of the Bene Gesserit's machinations to bring about Kwisatz Haderach. While it's fair to wonder if there was an opportunity to introduce the character sooner in Dune: Part Two, ultimately Villeneuve's decision to limit Feyd-Rautha's screen time may have been for the best to create a more powerful screen presence.
Dune: Part Two
- Release Date
- February 27, 2024
- Runtime
- 167 minutes
- Director
- Denis Villeneuve
Cast
Paul Atreides
Chani
WHERE TO WATCH
Dune: Part Two continues the epic saga of Paul Atreides as he allies with Chani and the Fremen. Pursuing retribution for his family's devastation, Paul grapples with a significant decision impacting his personal desires and the universe's future, attempting to avert a dire destiny that only he anticipates.
- Writers
- Denis Villeneuve
- Sequel(s)
- Dune: Part Three
- Franchise(s)
- Dune
- Studio(s)
- Legendary Pictures
- Distributor(s)
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- Budget
- $122 Million
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