Christopher Walken

Christopher Walken will join Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya in Dune: Part Two, which is based on Frank Herbert's science fiction novel.

Production on the film, Deadline reported, is expected to start in the fall. "We're excited to continue the journey!" Want to get the biggest stories from PEOPLE every weekday? Days later, Legendary confirmed Dune: Part Two is officially in the works. "There are some characters that are less developed that I'm keeping for the second film — that's the way I found the equilibrium. the company posted on

Dune: Part II has added Christopher Walken to its cast to play the emperor who's been plotting against House Atreides from the very beginning.

But he’ll definitely be one of the most important parts when Dune: Part II hits theaters on October 20th, 2023. It was obvious that Villeneuve was holding some things back to surprise audiences with in Legendary’s second Dune movie, and the latest bit of casting news suggests that the director knows what he’s doing. Deadline reports that Christopher Walken has signed on to Dune: Part II to portray the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV who is initially responsible for sending Paul Atreides’ father Leto to the planet Arrakis. In Herbert’s novel, House Harkonnen and the emperor are both shocked when they learn of the Fremen’s continued resistance on Arrakis following an attempt at eliminating House Atreides. Considering how Dune: Part II is meant to cover elements from the book that the first film didn’t get around to, the emperor’s not going to be the only interesting new part of the story.

sources tell Deadline Christopher Walken is in talks to play the Emperor Warner Bros. and Legendary's Dune Part Two.

Production is expected to start in the fall, with the film set to bow on October 20, 2023. Even with Dune: Part One going day-and-date on HBO Max, the film was still able to thrive in theaters with an opening weekend of $41 million, which exceeded expectations and led to a quick greenlight for a sequel weeks later. Villeneuve is back to write, direct and produce.

Christopher Walken, Florence Pugh and Austin Butler have joined the cast of sequel 'Dune: Part Two.'

The ICM-repped Walken is coming off co-starring in the Apple TV+ thriller Severance, the first season of which debuted earlier this year and has been renewed for a second season. Jose Ferrer played the part in the 1984 movie adaptation by David Lynch. He also co-wrote the script with Jon Spaihts.

Walken is the latest actor to join the cast for Dune: Part Two, following Florence Pugh (who will star as the Emperor's daughter Princess Irulan) and Austin ...

As many people have noted on social media, Walken’s addition in Dune fulfills a prophecy cast over two decades ago by Fatboy Slim: His “Weapon of Choice” — bolstered by a now-legendary video directed by Spike Jonze and starring Walken and his dance moves — prominently featured the lyric “Walk without rhythm, and it won’t attract the worm,” which is advice doled out in Herbert’s novel. The role also cements Walken’s resurgence of late, as the beloved actor has recently appeared in popular streaming shows like Severance and The Outlaws. Christopher Walken will portray the Emperor of the universe in Dune: Part Two, the upcoming second installment of director Denis Villenueve’s Oscar-nominated space epic.