EntertainmentMoviesSci-Fi MoviesDune 2Who is Anya Taylor-Joy playing in Dune 2? The mysterious cameo explainedWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
EntertainmentMoviesSci-Fi MoviesDune 2Who is Anya Taylor-Joy playing in Dune 2? The mysterious cameo explainedWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Getty Images/Samir Hussein / Contributor)
Dune 2picks up Paul Atreides’ story from the moment the first film ends, as he joins the Fremen people in their fight against House Harkonnen. Plenty of new faces join the cast this time around, including Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan and Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen. However, there is one more cast member that the moviealmostmanaged to keep under wraps: Anya Taylor-Joy.
After plenty of rumors that she was joining the cast ofDune: Part Two, it was confirmed when she stepped out for the film’s world premiere. However, the details of her cameo have been kept quiet until the sci-fi epic’s release.
Well, the wait for Denis Villeneuve’s sequel is now over, and we finally know who she is playing. Below, we delve into everything you need to know about that, as well as explaining what the significance of her character is going forward. But before we do, a word of warning,we’ll be getting into big spoiler territory from here on out. So if you’ve not seen Dune: Part Two yet, bookmark this page for later.
Who is Anya Taylor-Joy playing in Dune 2?
(Image credit: Warner Bros.)
Anya Taylor-Joy plays Paul’s sister Alia Atreides. She appears very briefly in one of Paul’s visions after he drinks the Water of Life and falls into a coma. During this, he sees visions of the past and future, including one where Alia is walking with him. “I’m with you and I love you,” she tells him as they walk through the desert.
This is all we see of the character in the film, other than the moments she speaks to Lady Jessica from the womb. Speaking about keeping her casting a secret, Villeneuve toldThe Hollywood Reporter: “I think that Hollywood is the most gossipy town on earth and I wanted, as an experiment, to see how long we could keep a secret. We did it. It was a special unit, we went to Africa to shoot with Anya under super-secrecy. I just loved the idea to keep something a surprise for the audience until the very end; it was like a gift I wanted to keep for the fans.”
While we don’t see much of her in the film, Alia has a big role to play in the Dune saga going forward, whichthe director has shared he is open to adapting.
Who is Alia Atreides in the Dune books?
(Image credit: Warner Bros.)
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In Dune’s sequel, Dune: Messiah, which is set 12 years later, Alia is described as an adult. Her character develops a relationship with ghola Hayt, who is Duncan Idaho (Jason Momoa’s character in the films) brought back from the dead. They work together throughout the novel to unravel threats to the House of Atreides, before eventually marrying. Alia is also named as the Regent when Paul is absent, caring for his children.
Her role grows in the further Dune sequels too, but it remains to be seen whether these will be adapted.Villeneuve has been open about his plans for just one more film, before handing on the baton.
Dune 2 is out in theaters now. For more on the sequel, check out our spoiler-filled guides to:
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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2
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
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1
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
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3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
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4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”