Spoilers are ahead for Dune: Part Two.

Summary

  • The scenes Tim Blake Nelson filmed for Dune: Part Two were cut, leaving the actor "heartbroken."
  • Speculation suggests Nelson may have portrayed Count Hasimir Fenring in the film, a powerful figure close to the Emperor.
  • Nelson's role, which could have helped tease Dune 3's plot, was cut in order to focus more on the Bene Gesserit.

When Warner Bros. revealed that Tim Blake Nelson filmed scenes for Denis Villeneuve's Dune 2's Emperor Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken). Unfortunately, Nelson's scenes were cut from the final film, leaving his role in Paul Atreides' (Timothée Chalamet) story to the imaginations of viewers who were hoping to see Count Fenring's arc play out.

Of course, Tim Blake Nelson wasn't director Villeneuve's only new recruit of note, as Léa Seydoux's Lady Margot Fenring, despite cutting the Bene Gesserit agent's husband, Count Fenring, who Nelson would've seemingly brought to life on the big screen.

Tim Blake Nelson's Dune 2 Role Hasn't Been Revealed

Ahead of Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård) is wary of Fenring, whom he calls, "a killer with the manners of a rabbit... the most dangerous kind."

Paul notes that Fenring is "one of the might-have-beens, an almost Kwisatz Haderach."

Fenring serves as the Emperor's ambassador on Arrakis for a time, and even facilitates the transfer of power on the desert planet between the warring houses of Harkonnen and Atreides. Interestingly, Lady Margot also lets her husband in on some of the specifics of the Kwisatz Haderach." While Count Fenring had the potential to become the Bene Gesserit superbeing, he merely aids the order's plans — and advises the Emperor.

Why Tim Blake Nelson Was Cut From Dune 2

Margot Fenring in Dune 2

In Dune: Part Two, both Shaddam IV, Padishah Emperor of the Known Universe, and Lady Margot have crucial roles, which makes the inclusion of Count Hasimir Fenring seem inevitable. While David Lynch's 1984 Dune cut both Lady Margot and her husband, Villeneuve's adaptation leans more heavily into the Bene Gesserit plotlines, making Seydoux's character a must. In fact, this extra attention paid to the Bene Gesserit characters — and the movie's substantial runtime — is primarily why Dune 2 cut Tim Blake Nelson's scenes, a decision that left the actor "heartbroken."

Nelson confirmed that his Dune role was meant to be a cameo.

Although he didn't share more about his would-be role, Nelson stated that he has "no hard feelings" about the director's decision to cut his Dune: Part Two scenes. Given Dune 2's ending, a third film based primarily on Dune Messiah seems like a real possibility. During an appearance on Marc Maron's WTF Podcast, Nelson confirmed that his Dune role was meant to be a "cameo" (via Cinema Solace), which means either Count Fenring or a Dune Messiah character like the shapeshifter Scytale could still be in the works if Dune 3 comes to .

Dune: Part Two is now playing in theaters worldwide.

Sources: WTF Podcast via Cinema Solace