Robert Pattinson’s Shocking Role in Dune: Messiah That Fans Can’t Stop Talking About!

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In recent times, I’ve found myself captivated by the successful reboot of a movie that has once again thrust the legendary Frank Herbert novels into the spotlight. The sequel, “Dune: Part II,” graced our screens in 2024, faithfully adapting the latter half of Herbert’s initial novel in the series. Now, there’s buzz about a similar treatment for “Dune: Messiah,” with whispers that a well-known actor might step into the role of a significant antagonist.

There are whispers that Robert Pattinson could feature prominently in the upcoming third Denis Villeneuve Dune movie. While this hasn’t been officially verified, it’s thought that he might be portraying Scytale, a cunning adversary to Paul Atreides/Muad’dib. If true, this character would combine aspects from the recent Dune TV series with a return of the villain to the big screen for another round.

Who Is Dune 3’s Scytale?

In the second book of the “Dune” series, titled “Dune: Messiah,” we are introduced to Scytale, a Face Dancer who serves under the Bene Tleilax. Being a Face Dancer gives him an extraordinary adaptability, as he can transform into other individuals and mimic their voices. This skill is strategically employed at crucial points in the narrative. The Tleilaxu’s scheme to dethrone Paul Atreides on Arrakis involves Scytale, but this is just one piece of the puzzle. Another component is Hayt, a ghola that represents the resurrected form of Duncan Idaho, who was portrayed in “Dune: Part I” by .

At Arrakis, Scytale carries out a treacherous act by assassinating a once loyal follower of Muad’dib and his family, disguising himself as the man’s daughter to gain access to Paul Atreides’ court. However, Paul remains unaware of Scytale’s deceit until it is nearly too late. On one occasion, Scytale attempts to use an atomic bomb to eliminate Paul, but the plot backfires, leaving him blind instead. Leveraging Paul’s emotional vulnerability following Chani’s death during childbirth and the resurfacing of Duncan/Hayt’s memories, Scytale unveils his and the Bene Tleilax’s nefarious schemes. This revelation leaves Paul with a difficult decision regarding how to respond to Scytale’s ultimatum.

As a movie aficionado, I’d rephrase it like this: In the world of Dune, if Paul hadn’t managed to save his kids from the clutches of the Tleilax, Hayt would have ended the lives of those two infants before they could fully grow. Fortunately, Paul’s own skills and the aid of his newly born son enabled him to act swiftly, making it seem as if he had defeated his adversary. However, Scytale didn’t meet his end there; instead, he was brought back to life in later Dune novels. Yet, his encounters with Paul Atreides and the primary characters of the tale came to an end at that point, a scenario that might hold true for the role Robert Pattinson is rumored to play in Dune 3.

Was Scytale In Previous Dune Adaptations?

In the captivating miniseries “Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune,” I had the privilege of being portrayed by Martin McDougall as the enigmatic character, Scytale. This series skillfully amalgamated elements from not one, but two books. The initial part of the narrative closely followed the events detailed in the original novel, with my role faithfully translated on screen.

Remember when I blinded Paul Atreides through an atomic assault, showcasing my Face Dancer abilities? Or when I met my end while Paul communed with his son Leto II, who bore the name of his grandfather, Duke Leto Atreides? These moments were all part of Scytale’s on-screen journey.

Should Robert Pattinson step into the role of Scytale in a future adaptation, it wouldn’t be his character’s debut transformation, as I’ve already witnessed different interpretations of my character before.

It’s plausible that the portrayal of events in “Children of Dune” could be more faithful to the original source material, given that some alterations were made to the story. These changes may not significantly affect Scytale’s role in the upcoming sequel, but there is a possibility they might. Interestingly, the initial representation of Scytale in David Lynch’s 1984 “Dune” film wasn’t officially recognized as such by viewers and fans. In this adaptation, Baron Harkonnen undergoes a procedure to drain his pustules, which is performed by his doctor in an unusual manner.

One of the Baron’s faithful attendants, this doctor expresses that his master’s skin is dear to him, not lovely. Portrayed by Leonardo Cimino, this character was intended to have a more significant part in the unreleased sequel. In David Lynch’s unused Dune II, it was planned that “The Baron’s Doctor” from Dune would be unveiled as Scytale. His role as a physician was actually a disguise, and during the assault on House Atreides, he had clandestinely taken away Duncan Idaho’s corpse.

Initially, his character would have resembled the book itself and the Duncan/Hayt ghola, but unfortunately, due to the financial flop of the initial movie, plans for sequels were scrapped. However, director Denis Villeneuve is set to bring the antagonist to life on the big screen in the upcoming film, whether it’s Robert Pattinson who portrays him or not. This decision also involves adopting a concept that was recently explored in a spin-off television series.

Dune: Prophecy Already Set Up a Major Franchise Concept

The HBO Max and HBO series Dune: Prophecy deviates significantly from the main narrative of Sisterhood of Dune, yet it introduces and emphasizes elements not previously explored in other adaptations. Many spectators speculated that one such element could be the ghola concept, which might be subtly introduced and connected to the unique character Desmond Hart, who bears a striking resemblance to…

Messiah, didn’t introduce the concept of gholas to those unfamiliar with the books as an explanation for the antagonist. However, the idea of Face Dancers will be introduced in the third Dune movie, and one of these characters was present in Dune: Prophecy, aiding the series protagonist Valya Harkonnen. A Bene Gesserit character named Sister Theodosia, who assists Valya, was also seen in Dune: Prophecy.

Sister Theodosia is skillfully portrayed as a skilled shape-shifter throughout the series. Her first demonstration of this ability occurs when she assumes the form of Valya’s late brother to console a distraught member of the Bene Gesserit order. This trick is later employed in the Season 1 finale, where Theodosia impersonates Princess Ynez, a member of House Corrino. Notably, Theodosia shares an characteristic with Scytale in her independent and autonomous personality. At various instances, she voices concerns about Valya’s decisions, serving as a voice of reason within the Bene Gesserit sisterhood.

As a film enthusiast, I’ve noticed that the Face Dancers we’ve seen in the franchise so far are usually more reliant and submissive. However, the first season of Dune: Prophecy didn’t delve too deeply into the Bene Tleilax or their society as a whole. It seems that these aspects might be saved for the show’s second season, which could potentially air before or after Denis Villeneuve’s third Dune movie. This connection between the series and films is intriguing, hinting at how they might expand upon their shared lore concepts. If the pattern holds true, the second season of Dune: Prophecy may also explore how Scytale returns from his apparent demise, adding another layer to the captivating storyline.

It remains unclear if the Dune movie series will continue beyond the planned adaptation of Dune: Messiah, as director Denis Villeneuve intends for this to be his final film in the series. Consequently, any future adaptations of Heretics of Dune or Chapterhouse Dune (where Scytale reappears) could potentially be standalone films, and may not feature any of the previous cast members. This implies that Robert Pattinson might only appear in a single Dune movie as Scytale, if he is indeed cast for the role. However, since Scytale has the ability to shape-shift, there’s already a reason for recasting the character. Regardless, the addition of actors like Zendaya and Florence Pugh to Dune: Messiah will undoubtedly add even more star power to the production.

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2025-04-27 07:09