Dune: Explanation Of The Universe Of Arrakis Who Are The Atreides, The Harkonnen, The Fremen and Bene Gesserit?
Intrigues, passions and above all betrayals, could sum up Dune the story of Frank Herbert that the director and screenwriter Denis Villeneuve has beautifully adapted and which is released in French cinemas this Wednesday, September 15 after its premiere at the Venice Film Festival. But before its premiere, the director and his actors explain to us who in the universe of Arrakis is.
The Atreides
They are one of the great houses of the empire. The prosperity of their planet, based on sustainable energies, and their nobility make them more and more popular in the empire, but it brings them new enemies. “The emperor is jealous of their growing popularity,” explains director Denis Villeneuve. “They are an example for the rest of the galaxy to follow, whether friends or foes,” says actor Oscar Isaac, who plays Duke Leto Atreides. His son, Paul Atréides (Timothée Chalamet), is the heir. He was trained in the nobility of his father and the powers of his mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Fergusson), a member of the Order of the Bene Gesserit. “Dune tells the story of the Atréides family and how they fell into the emperor’s trap,” concludes director Denis Villeneuve.
The Bene Gesserit
This is an order of very powerful women: able to control the minds of others, to fight … Lady Jessica is a representative of this order. She is the mother of Paul Atréides, and the wife of Duke Leto. “They have tremendous strength and power. They are warriors, bodyguards, they can read other people’s minds. But Jessica has three fronts open to her, being a mother, a lover and a Bene Gesserit” says Rebecca Ferguson, who plays Lady Jessica.
The Protectors of the Atreides
Two characters play the protectors of the family. They are in a way the masters of arms of the heir Paul Atréides. His protectors are Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin) and Duncan Idaho (Jason Momoa), and they have a relationship as intense as if they were brothers. Jason Momoa explains: “My character is the knight in charge of protecting the family. It’s his family. He would give his blood for them. In the case of Gurney Halleck, he is a combat trainer, a warrior: “He is very strict but also funny, visceral, fatherly and motherly at the same time”, explains Denis Villeneuve.
The Harkonnen
They are the ultimate villains. Ancestral enemies of the Atreides, they are dark, ruthless and traitors. “They’ve always been a dark, sadistic family in this galaxy” says the director. Directed by the powerful Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, masterfully played by Stellan Skarsgård, he notes that the character and his presence are devastating: “As soon as he appears, his shadow hangs over the whole movie, he is responsible for the deaths of many people” and it shows, according to the actor. His nephew, the Beast Rabban Harkonnen, played by Dave Bautista, is also terrifying: “He feeds on the fear of others. He is ruthless, sadistic, notes Dave Bautista.
The Fremen
They are a kind of Tuareg of the desert. They are the natives of Arrakis. “They live deep in the desert and know how to adapt to the most difficult situations: scorching heat, sandstorms, dangerous predators” explains the director of Dune. Their leader is Stilgar (Javier Bardem), who says his character is fascinating: “He’s very powerful. He’s a warrior, but he’s also fearful and worried about his future, explains Spanish actor Javier Bardem, who spent several weeks in Abu Dhabi to shoot the film. Another key Fremen in the story is Chani, played by Zendaya, whom Paul Atreides constantly sees in his dreams as an old friend trying to guide him. “Chani is a native of Arrakis who is used to hostility between her people and those who try to exploit her land, she is a warrior”,
