Academy Award-nominated director Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners, Sicario, Blade Runner: 2049) will be bringing Frank Herbert’s Dune back to the big screen for Legendary, with at least two movies. We previously reported that Dave Bautista and Oscar Isaac had joined the cast.
Variety now reports that Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men, Mother!) is now in talks to play Stilgar, the leader of a tribe who assists Timothée Chalamet’s main character, Paul Atreides.
“Set in the distant future, Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides, whose family accepts control of the desert planet Arrakis. As the only producer of a highly valuable resource, control of Arrakis is highly contested among competing noble families. After Paul and his family are betrayed, the story explores themes of politics, religion, and man’s relationship to nature as Paul leads a rebellion to restore his family’s control of Arrakis.”
Villeneuve co-wrote the script with Eric Roth and Jon Spaihts.
Other previously announced cast members include Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Stellan Skarsgård and Charlotte Rampling.