Austin Butler plays the part of Feyd-Rautha in Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 cinematic extravaganza “Dune.” This character is the younger nephew and designated successor to Stellan Skarsgård’s portrayal of Baron Vladimir Harkonnen. To infuse life into his rendition of Feyd-Rautha, Butler meticulously analyzed and drew inspiration from Skarsgård’s vocal delivery in the saga’s opening installment.
“Listening to Butler’s voice in the film is like hearing an echo,” Skarsgård said. “It was pinpoint accurate.”
Austin Butler shines as an exceptional performer. Our admiration for him commenced with his role in The Carrie Diaries. His dedication to method acting in the portrayal of Elvis left us astonished. Hence, his casting announcement for Dune: Part Two piqued our curiosity about whether he would embrace method acting once more, or if he would draw inspiration from fellow actors to enrich his performance.
He’s been making the rounds about his part in the film and has been asked who influenced his portrayal of his character.
“He stated in an interview with NME that Gary Oldman’s performances have always served as a significant influence for him, especially in crafting the ‘psychotic’ character of Feyd-Rautha. He cited movies like ‘Léon: The Professional,’ ‘True Romance,’ and ‘The Fifth Element’ as examples.”
Austin went on to mention, “You know, our discussions often revolve around Heath Ledger, focusing on the playful aspect he embodied. And as I have mentioned, it’s less about the specifics and more about drawing general inspiration.”
Stellan Skarsgård laughed when he first saw Austin Butler as the cruel Feyd-Rautha in the film “Dune: Part Two.”
At the “Dune: Part Two” premiere in New York City on Sunday night, Skarsgård told Variety, “I laughed so much because it was so obvious that he enjoyed being evil.”
Set in the barren landscape of Arrakis, “Dune: Part Two” picks up the journey of Paul Atreides (portrayed by Timothée Chalamet), who has joined forces with the Fremen for a battle against the Harkonnen House. The sequel boasts a star-studded cast including Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Léa Seydoux, Dave Bautista, Charlotte Rampling, Souheila Yacoub, Javier Bardem, Christopher Walken, and Stellan Skarsgård. Anya Taylor-Joy, seen at the premiere in New York City, is confirmed to make an appearance in this part, though her role remains a mystery.
Before he collaborated on Villeneuve’s follow-up, Walken had already been acquainted with the “Dune” universe. He’d immersed himself in Frank Herbert’s iconic 1965 science fiction book during his youth and had also experienced the narrative through David Lynch’s cinematic rendition from 1984.
In an interview with Variety, Walken said, “I kind of grew up with it.” “This ‘Dune’ rendition, though, is unique.”
Butler also said that he saw the 1984 film when he was a child and thought that Sting’s performance as Feyd-Rautha was “extraordinary.”
“However, this movie stood out in its uniqueness, and from merely observing ‘Part One,’ it became clear that its tone deviated significantly,” Butler remarked. “Hence, it afforded me ample opportunities to explore and shape my unique interpretation.”
Seydoux confessed that she was a “little nervous” about becoming part of the sci-fi series. Despite this, she revealed that she had no preconceived notions regarding the magnitude of filming a “Dune” movie; she had managed to catch a glimpse during the time Villeneuve and his team were producing the initial movie.
In an interview, Seydoux said that he had visited the set of “Dune” while shooting a different picture with a Hungarian director. So, when I returned, it was almost like coming home. It felt like a family.
“Denis has always dreamt of adapting this book since he was a young boy, so I sensed I was part of his long-held tradition,” Seydoux noted. “He had a precise vision of what he was after, familiar with every detail, which made things strangely straightforward in a manner.”
Butler had mentioned he had not encountered Sting previously, however, this chance came to fruition at the after-party for “Dune: Part Two.” It was there that they both shared moments posing for photographs and engaging in conversation within the premises of the American Museum of Natural History.
“Dune: Part Two” premieres in theatres on Friday.
