Dune 2 is set to introduce a new group of characters from Denis Villeneuve’s epic sci-fi fantasy books, including Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha. A ruthless killer who the actor describes as having a seductive feel to him.
The first installment of the franchise was only the beginning of a larger story as Dune 2 will fully begin to explore the battle between the Harkonnens and the Fremen led by Paul Atreides. With the return of Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, head of House Harkonnen, fans will also meet his ruthless nephew – Feyd-Rautha.
Austin Butler will star as the character coming from his hit roles as Elvis Presley and Masters of the Air. A big change as Feyd-Rautha is described as psychotic, a blood-thirsty killer, and one of Paul’s biggest adversaries. The trailers for Dune 2 have shown snippets of his character and his steel gaze of evil.
The actor has chimed in that there’s more to Feyd-Rautha in Dune 2 than meets the eye and some may find an appeal in him.
Feyd-Rautha is a merciless killer playboy in Dune 2
Austin Butler and Denis Villeneuve describe that Feyd-Rautha is more than just his villain status, as he will entice fans in a unique form of seduction that’s scary yet thrilling.
Speaking with Games Radar for Total Film, Butler described, “Denis described him to me as having a psychotic nature, but yet there’s something sort of seductive about him as well. And he’s hungry for power. I started thinking: ‘Well, how did he grow up? What would his voice sound like? How would he breathe? How would he move?’ That was the real fun, where you start filling in all those details, and putting meat on the bone.”
When fans first meet him in the Dune 2 trailers, there’s no denying that there’s something dark yet alluring about the character. It’s likely due to his powerful frame and relentless gaze. But underneath it all, fans can feel the harrowing chill of death as someone who proves his worth with death.
In the books, the Baron describes his “full and pouting look” thanks to the Harkonnen genetics. Villeneuve cast Butler as he embodies Feyd-Rautha’s more seductive appeal. “He’s the beautiful Baron nephew. A playboy. A very sexy, charismatic, psychotic killer. There’s something erotic about it. Everybody needs to be moved by his beauty,” explained the director.
Dune 2 isn’t shying away from showing the sexual dynamic of Feyd-Rautha. The trailer shows him staring at a servant in the eye as he teases his tongue with a sharp blade. Dune 2 also teases his close encounter with Léa Seydoux’s character Margot Fenring.
Per the book canon, Margot is tasked with bedding him to get a sample of his DNA as she is part of the order of the Bene Gesserit. She must help “preserve the bloodline” by retrieving his genetic material. Fans will see for themselves just how “seductive” Fredy-Rautha can be in his madness.
