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What the cast of 'Dune: Part 2' looks like in real life

What the cast of 'Dune: Part 2' looks like in real life
Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides and Zendaya as Chani in "Dune: Part Two."Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros. Pictures
  • The sequel to Denis Villeneuve's "Dune: Part One" is now playing in theaters.
  • The cast of "Dune: Part Two" includes Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Christopher Walken.

Denis Villeneuve's highly anticipated follow-up to 2021's "Dune: Part One" has finally arrived.

"Dune: Part Two," now playing in theaters, boasts a stacked cast of Hollywood veterans and younger talents, including Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, and Christopher Walken.

Unlike many films that succumb to the sequel curse, critics are hailing "Part Two" as a masterpiece that might just be superior to the first installment.

Here's how the stars of "Dune: Part Two" look in real life compared to their on-screen characters.

Timothée Chalamet returns as Paul Atreides.

Timothée Chalamet returns as Paul Atreides.
Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides in "Dune: Part Two" and Chalamet at the UK premiere of the film.      Warner Bros. Pictures; Scott A. Garfitt/Invision/AP

In real life, Chalamet looks similar to his character.

Just as Paul steps into his position as the Muad'Dib, Chalamet is also leading the pack in young Hollywood. At 28 years old, the actor has already been nominated for an Oscar and has worked with notable directors like Villeneuve, Christopher Nolan, Luca Guadagnino, Greta Gerwig, and Wes Anderson.

Zendaya gets much more screen time as Fremen warrior Chani in "Dune: Part Two."

Zendaya gets much more screen time as Fremen warrior Chani in "Dune: Part Two."
Zendaya as Chani in "Dune: Part Two" and Zendaya at the NYC premiere of the film.      Warner Bros. Pictures; Dave Allocca/StarPix

Chani and Zendaya both possess a fierceness, but the actor is more likely to exude it through her bold and glamorous fashion on red carpets than on the sands of Arrakis.

Academy Award winner Javier Bardem is back as Stilgar, a wise Fremen leader.

Academy Award winner Javier Bardem is back as Stilgar, a wise Fremen leader.
Javier Bardem as Stilgar in "Dune: Part Two" and at the world premiere of "The Little Mermaid" in May.      Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros. Pictures; Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

In the films, Stilgar and the Fremen have bright blue eyes as a result of consuming spice melange, a valuable drug found on Arrakis. In real life, Bardem has naturally dark brown eyes. He also styles his hair differently than his "Dune" character.

Rebecca Ferguson reprises her role as Lady Jessica, Paul's mom.

Rebecca Ferguson reprises her role as Lady Jessica, Paul
Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica in "Dune: Part Two" and Ferguson at the NYC premiere of the film.      Warner Bros. Pictures; Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

In real life, Ferguson has blonde-brown hair and blue eyes, albeit not as electric as the characters in the "Dune" universe.

Josh Brolin returns as Gurney Halleck after the character's fate was left unclear in "Dune: Part One."

Josh Brolin returns as Gurney Halleck after the character
Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck in "Dune: Part Two" and Brolin at the NYC premiere of the film.      Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros. Pictures; Dave Allocca/StarPix

In real life, Brolin has less facial hair than his "Dune" character.

Stellan Skarsgård looks vastly different from his antagonist character, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen.

Stellan Skarsgård looks vastly different from his antagonist character, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen.
Stellan Skarsgård as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen in "Dune: Part Two" and Skarsgård at the NYC premiere of the film.      Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros. Pictures; Dave Allocca/StarPix

To become the Baron in the first "Dune" film, Skarsgård wore a 20-pound body suit and seven prosthetics. The whole process took eight hours, Skarsgard told The Daily Beast in 2021.

Wrestler-turned-actor Dave Bautista reprises his role as Beast Rabban Harkonnen, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen's terrifying nephew.

Wrestler-turned-actor Dave Bautista reprises his role as Beast Rabban Harkonnen, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen
Dave Bautista as Beast Rabban in "Dune: Part Two" and Bautista at the NYC premiere of the film.      Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros. Studios; Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Like the other Harkonnens, Bautista's character is bald and pale. In real life, the "Guardians of the Galaxy" star has facial hair and often wears glasses.

Oscar nominee Austin Butler is unrecognizable as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, Baron Harkonnen's bloodthirsty nephew who's skilled at combat.

Oscar nominee Austin Butler is unrecognizable as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, Baron Harkonnen
Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in "Dune: Part Two" and Butler at the NYC premiere of the film.      Warner Bros. Pictures; Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Butler spent four months training in order to physically embody the villain. Because the actor was scheduled to film another movie, "The Bikeriders," after "Dune: Part Two," he couldn't shave off his hair. Instead, the "Elvis" star spent three hours in the hair and makeup chair getting a bald cap applied to his head.

Christopher Walken plays Emperor Shaddam IV in "Dune: Part Two."

Christopher Walken plays Emperor Shaddam IV in "Dune: Part Two."
Christopher Walken as Emperor Shaddam IV in "Dune: Part Two" and Walken at the NYC premiere of the film.      Warner Bros.; Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

In the production notes for "Dune: Part Two," Villeneuve said that Walken was "the only one I had in my mind as I was writing the screenplay."

Unlike some of his costars, Walken didn't undergo a significant change in his physical appearance for his role.

Florence Pugh makes her debut as Princess Irulan, the daughter of the emperor.

Florence Pugh makes her debut as Princess Irulan, the daughter of the emperor.
Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan in "Dune: Part Two" and Pugh at the world premiere in London.      Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros. Pictures; Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP

Pugh and Princess Irulan both possess a regal demeanor and intelligence. Off-screen, Pugh also rocks short, blonde hair.

Léa Seydoux joins the "Dune" franchise as the mysterious Lady Margot Fenring, a Bene Gesserit.

Léa Seydoux joins the "Dune" franchise as the mysterious Lady Margot Fenring, a Bene Gesserit.
Léa Seydoux as Lady Margot Fenring in "Dune: Part Two" and Seydoux at the NYC premiere of the film.      Warner Bros.; Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Seydoux and Lady Fenring look similar, but the actor's "Dune" character conceals most of her hair under a cloak-like headpiece.




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