There is an even larger universe of passionate fans than Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, or Game of Thrones and that world is Dune. Frank Herbert‘s classic was released 59 years ago, in 1965, and is considered one of the best works of science fiction ever written.

Translating Dune‘s rich complexity to film – or TV – has always met with fierce critics, including David Lynch‘s 1984 attempt. However, the grandeur of the work is incredible in Denis Villeneuve‘s trilogy and has been unanimous among those most passionate about it.

Dune takes place in a universe with its own politics, economy, ecology, and religion, which the author knows how to use as metaphors for earthly issues. In the vast and rich set of characters, none is multifaceted, making tough and questionable decisions according to personal motivations.

The main one is Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), of the Atreides family who takes control of the desert planet Arrakis, the sole producer of a highly valuable substance known as “spice”, which grants prolonged life and psychic powers. Paul is the teenage son of Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac) and Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), intelligent and trained with a sense of duty and who undergoes the greatest transformation of the entire saga. And around him, of course, there are several intelligent and powerful women worth highlighting.

Lady Jessica

Paul’s mother, Leto’s lover, played by Rebecca Ferguson is a member of the Bene Gesserit, a female order with almost mystical abilities. As we saw in the first part, she is one of the most important female figures in history, with a great influence on her son’s journey.

Jessica has, and teaches Paul, the ability of the voice, which is a hypnotic power that she learned in Bene Gesserit. When she and Paul are taken in by the Fremen, she stands out and gains credibility with her prophetic abilities. She also goes through a major transformation.

Alia Atreides

Paul’s sister was only supposed to appear in the second film, but in the book, she is a powerful character because she was exposed to the spice Melange when her mother was pregnant, and she is born with extraordinary psychic abilities. It is the role of Anya Taylor-Joy, who will certainly be in Dune 3. Alia has an important role in the political plot of the saga.

Chani

Zendaya‘s character is very different from the book, as many fans have noticed, less passive and with a much stronger personality. Chani was generally described as “Paul’s lover and mother of his children”, a strong and skilled Fremen warrior.

She helps Paul adapt to Fremen’s life and his rise to power but walks away when she realizes he is no longer who he seems to be. Anyone who knows me knows that I don’t spare spoilers. If you haven’t read the book, sorry.

Chani will have twins, Leto and Ghanima, but in Dune 3 she will be the victim of a tragedy. Just warning…

Princess Irulan

The eldest daughter of Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken) and Bene Gesserit Anirul, Irulan (Florence Pugh) is a historian, a shrewd politician, and also, like Lady Jessica, a trained Bene Gesserit.

She will eventually be forced to marry Paul Atreides to solidify a political alliance and is forbidden from having children with him. The mistake is underestimating her ability.

Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam

The mysterious senior Bene Gesserit (Charlotte Rampling), is Lady Jessica’s mentor and a shrewd – often dangerous – politician as well.

She is also responsible for testing Paul’s resistance to fear at the beginning of the first book, an event that establishes many of the central themes and conflicts of the rest of the series.

It illustrates many of Dune’s central themes, including female power, genetic manipulation, and the struggle for control over human destiny. More than anything, it is always pointed out as the female example in the Saga that, despite living in a patriarchal society, women are capable of exerting significant influence through their skills and intelligence.

Did I forget anything?

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