Florence Pugh can go to the planet Arrakis.
The English actress is in talks to join the ranks of Dune: Part 2, the sequel to the Oscar-nominated sci-fi epic Denis Villeneuve that Legendary is working on.
If the deal goes through, Pugh will be the first franchise newcomer to join the returning cast, which includes Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson and Javier Bardem, among others.
The film, directed by Villeneuve, should pick up where the first left off, telling the rest of the story of Frank Herbert’s original 1965 novel of the same name, in which Paul Atreides (Chalame) fights alongside the Fremen to free the desert planet of Arrakis. from the clutches of House Harkonnen.
The project features three new lead roles, including Emperor Shaddam IV, the ruler who sent the Atreides family to Arrakis, and Feid-Rautha, the cunning nephew of the baron who leads House Harkonnen.
Pugh is invited to play the role of Princess Irulan, the emperor’s daughter. However, there are several obstacles to any deal. The script is still being written, so the actress is said to be waiting for the final draft. In addition, planning creates another obstacle. Legendary is hoping to start filming this summer, but Pugh is also in the running for a Madonna biopic, and it’s not clear when it will happen if she gets the lead role.
Another possible factor is the war in Ukraine. The first film was partly filmed in Hungary, and Dune: Part 2 is planning the same. This is close to the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II and it is not yet clear if this will affect the plans for the project.
Dune, which opened daily in US theaters and on HBO Max, grossed over $400 million worldwide. Warner Bros will release Dune: Part 2 on October 20, 2023.
Pugh, who was nominated for an Oscar for Little Women in 2019, is currently filming Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and filming Marvel Studios’ Disney+ series Hawkeye, which debuted during the Christmas season.
It is represented by CAA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and the British Curtis Brown Group.