Dune Fancast pt 1, House Atreides
I’ve been kicking around the idea of the upcoming live action Dune movie a lot, but it bugs me that most of the fancasts I’ve seen have all been hella white. Let’s fix that.
Starting, of course, with the House Atreides. Proud, honorable, easily manipulated.
Paul/Muad’dib: Ashton Sanders
Paul is the hardest to get right. He needs to be young and vulnerable, but also capable of great internal strength, and deeply charismatic. He also needs to be an actor comfortable in silence since so much of this portrayal is done through internal monologue. Moonlight’s Ashton Sanders fits the bill perfectly, he’s shown is abilities in all those areas, and is a deeply skilled actor.
The Duke is fiercely loyal, a military genius, but also proud and foolish. C’mon, think of how fucking dope it would be to have Kanye in that role. Plus, then we could get Kanye doing the soundtrack and FUCK YES.
Lady Jessica: Robin Wright
Lady Jessica needs to be able to encapsulate so much in her performance. She sacrificed a lifetime of training and support in order to give the Duke the son he wanted rather than the daughter she was meant to bear. She deeply loves her adopted Atreides family—but is also arguably the smartest and most skilled person in the novel. Robin Wright’s turn in House of Cards shows she can play the political manipulator in ways that would make the Bene Gesserit proud.
One of the important character beats of Jessica is that she’s eternally labeled as a “Bene Gesserit witch” due to her background and training, and that marks her as an outsider inside the family Atreides. Having a white actress inside an otherwise black cast highlights that.
Thufir Hawat: Jeffrey Wright
Mentat and master of assassins. Eventually corrupted and controlled by the House Harkonnen. Everyone’s favorite blerd Jeffrey Wright could easily bring the living computer and tactician to the screen.
The gorgeous swordmaster and skilled fighter of House Atreides. Not to copy wholeheartedly from wikipedia, but: “Duncan is described as a handsome man with "curling black hair" to whom women are easily attracted. Paul Atreides notes Duncan's "dark round face" and "feline movements, the swiftness of reflex that made him such a difficult weapons teacher to emulate." Lady Jessica calls him "the admirable fighting man whose abilities at guarding and surveillance are so esteemed."“
So yeah. Idris. Fucking. Elba.
Dr Wellington Yue: Mahershala Ali
“Yueh! Yueh! Yueh!" goes the refrain. "A million deaths were not enough for Yueh!"”
The doctor turned traitor, who broke his unbreakable Suk Imperial Conditioning under the threat of torture to his wife. He also provides ways for the Atreides to survive and strike back. Ali excels at portraying internal strength and conflict. He’s a fucking incredible character, and would be ideal for the most morally grey of House Atreides.
Gurney Halleck: Chiwetel Ejiofor
Paul’s weapons teacher, a skilled musician, and possible secret lover of Lady Jessica. One of the best fighters in the universe, he’s lead to believe that it was Jessica that betrayed the Duke rather than Yue, and almost kills her. Ejiofor can easily play both the romantic/soft side of Halleck, but also bring about his fierce skills and devotion.
Next time: House Harkonnen!
