Austin Butler may look a bit odd in the Dune: Part Two's cast makes several notable additions to play some of the novel's most important characters, including Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha and Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan.
Butler's character, Feyd-Rautha, is the nephew and chosen heir of the evil Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgard), and he plays a critical role in Herbert's novel. Feyd-Rautha was not introduced in Denis Villeneuve's first installment of Dune, but his character is sure to be important to the sequel. With the trailer and first images of Dune: Part Two coming out, it's evident that Feyd-Rautha has already been changed from the book in one critical way: his appearance. Feyd-Rautha's distinctly different look in Herbert's novel appears to have been scrapped in favor of a much creepier and more monstrous take on this crucial character.
Why Austin Butler Looks Like That In Dune 2
Austin Butler's Feyd-Rautha was likely made bald in Dune: Part Two to make him look more like the other Harkonnens. Stellan Skarsgard's Baron Vladimir and Dave Bautista's Glossu Rabban both featured heavily in Dune, and both were given the bald heads and slightly monstrous look that has become synonymous with Villeneuve's interpretation of the Harkonnens. The decision to make Feyd-Rautha look like that as well is likely meant to keep his character in line with the rest of his house, and also to make him a distinctly villainous character.
The monstrous appearance of House Harkonnen is largely due to their overconsumption of melange. The spice has many effects on humans, including the opening of one's mind and the expansion of sensory perceptions. In some cases, such as with Guild Navigators and Paul Atreides, it can give the ability of prescience, or foresight. It can also help the body function at a generally high level and extend one's life. However, the spice is extremely addictive, and total withdrawal from it can lead to death. It can also twist the body after prolonged exposure, leading to the grotesque appearances of the Harkonnens and the Guild Navigators.
Austin Butler's Feyd-Rautha Appearance Is Being Made Fun Of
Butler's creepy appearance as Feyd-Rautha has already led to plenty of jokes on various social media platforms. Some are calling him "bald Matt Smith" and other joking names to make light of his scary appearance. While he may indeed look funny in images without context, his character will be far from humorous in Dune: Part Two. Feyd-Rautha is one of the most devious characters in Herbert's iconic novel and his role in the film should quickly dispel any jokes about the actor's appearance. Based on his role in the original book, Feyd-Rautha will likely become one of the most feared characters in Dune's world by the end of the sequel.
Austin Butler's Feyd-Rautha Is A Dark & Complex Dune 2 Villain
Austin Butler's Feyd-Rautha is easily one of the darkest and most complex villains in the entire Dune franchise. Feyd is the younger brother of Dave Bautista's Rabban, but was chosen as heir to House Harkonnen by the Baron because of his cunning and ruthless actions. Where Rabban is brutal and direct, Feyd-Rautha is subtle and charismatic. He is also extremely arrogant and ambitious, but careful and calculating in his plans. In many ways, Feyd is similar to his uncle, the Baron, but he also seems to loath the Baron and desire his position and the power that comes with it.
His charismatic persona conceals his dark intentions. He seeks power purely for the sake of power and is driven by the same insatiable greed as the rest of House Harkonnen. The Baron plans for Feyd's brother, Rabban, to tyrannically brutalize the Fremen on Arrakis, so that when Feyd-Rautha arrives to take his place they will welcome the change in regime with open arms. Feyd is groomed for this purpose and recognizes the immense power that comes from controlling the flow of spice on Arrakis. Both he and the Baron see this as an opportunity to make House Harkonnen more powerful than ever.
How Dune 2 Has Changed Feyd-Rautha From The Books
The most obvious way in which Feyd-Rautha has been changed from the books is in his appearance. Feyd-Rautha is described by Herbert as having dark hair and full lips, with a round face and sullen eyes. This description fits Austin Butler reasonably well, however, Dune: Part Two has obviously chosen to make him hairless like the other Harkonnens, marking a significant deviation from the book. Interestingly, though, this may not be the only change that Dune: Part Two makes to Feyd-Rautha's character.
Because Feyd-Rautha is being introduced later in the game, his story may have to be tweaked to fit everything else that's happened. However, it's likely that all of his major scenes, including meeting the Fenring's and fighting in the pits on Giedi Prime, will still be included. Any changes to Feyd's story will probably be small and done out of necessity to fit the timeframe of the movie. His personality and attitude should not require much tweaking either, though it seems possible that Feyd will be made into more of a secondary threat compared to the Baron than he is in the book.
What Happens To Austin Butler's Feyd-Rautha In The Dune Books
One of the important things about Feyd-Rautha in the book is that, like Dune: Part Two trailer.
In another part of the book, Feyd-Rautha gets caught up in the schemes of the former Atreides mentat, Thufir Hawat. He tries to plan the assassination of his uncle with Hawat, but fails to realize the extent to which Hawat has manipulated him. Hawat tells the Baron of the plan and Feyd is chastised by his uncle for his impatience. The most critical moment in Feyd-Rautha's arc, however, comes when he meets Paul Atreides in a ritual duel on Arrakis. After Paul's victory over the Emperor, Paul agrees to duel Feyd-Rautha and kills him, ending House Harkonnen. All of these moments could wind up getting incorporated into Dune: Part Two's story in one way or another.
