Florence Pugh is in negotiations to join the cast of the anticipated epic sci-fi film, Dune: Part 2 as Princess Irulan Corrino. The character is a royal who will become romantically involved with lead actor Timothée Chalamet’s protagonist of Paul Atreides, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Princess Irulan will be a critical role in the upcoming sequel. She has the potential to be even more important if Dune: Part 2 delves deep into the 1965 novel of the same name by Frank Herbert that the movies are based on.
The upcoming movie will serve as a follow-up to the critically acclaimed, commercially successful feature, Dune. The original drama was released last fall by production company Legendary Entertainment and distributor Warner Bros.
In the films, Paul is fighting alongside the Fremen to free the desert planet of Arrakis from the grips of House Harkonnen. Besides Princess Irulan, the movie is also casting two other new major parts, including Emperor Shaddam IV, the ruler who sends the Atreides family to Arrakis, and Feyd-Rautha, the cunning nephew of the baron who heads House Harkonnen.
If Pugh is cast in Dune: Part 2, she’ll be the first franchise newcomer to join much of the ensemble from its predecessor, including Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Zendaya and Javier Bardem. The final casting news is expected to be made soon, as production on the sequel is scheduled to start this summer. The drama is expected to be released in theaters on October 20, 2023.
Pugh hasn’t officially signed on yet to play Princess Irulan in Dune: Part 2, however, for several reasons. The script is still being written, and she’s reportedly waiting to received and read the film’s latest draft.
The English actress may also face a scheduling conflict on the follow-up. Legendary Entertainment is hoping to begin shooting Dune: Part 2 this summer, but Pugh is also being considered to star in the Madonna biopic, and it’s not yet known when that movie will shoot.
Dune: Part II may also face obstacles in its shoot because of the current war in Ukraine. The first film was partially shot in Hungary, and its successor is planning to do the same. Hungary is close to the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II, and it’s not yet clear how the war will impact the upcoming drama’s plans.
Denis Villeneuve, who co-wrote, directed and produced Dune, will return to the franchise to helm the sequel. The filmmaker is nominated for two trophies at this month’s Academy Awards – Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Dune grossed nearly $400 million worldwide when it was released in theaters and on HBO Max day-and-date on October 22. It has also garnered eight other Oscar nominations, including for Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects and Best Production Design.
Pugh recently reprised her character of Yelena Romanoff on the Disney Plus series Hawkeye, a role she originated in Black Widow. She will soon be seen starring opposite Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt and Matt Damon in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, and will also appear in Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling and Sebastián Lelio’s The Wonder.
The actress rose to fame when she was nominated for an Academy Award in 2020 for Little Women. The nomination came after she also garnered attention in 2019 for the folk horror movie, Midsommar.