Anya Taylor-Joy CONFIRMED as [SPOILER] in Dune Part Two!

A discussion of a major revelation and my thoughts for what this means for Dune Part 2 and beyond. Major potential spoilers for Dune Part 2.
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[@NerdCookies]

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[@ursaber]

nooooooooooo, i wanted child Alia, she's so cool and interesting and tragic. and she's the one who kills the baron harkonnen, how are they going to handle that now!?

[@koko40800]

@@ursaber They may still have child Alia...I'm hoping they do, b/c I really had my heart set on seeing the scene of Alia as a toddler, creeping up on wounded Sardaukar and Harkonnen soldiers on the battlefield and knifing them to death...Villeneuve said Dune 2 was going to "get weird",. and that would be a nice weird horror show scene imo

[@ursaber]

i hope so too, god i hope so, Alia is my favorite character in all of Dune followed by Duncan Idaho and then Jessica. Child Alia MUST be the one to take the baron's life, that's MASSIVELY important for Alia's future involvement@@koko40800

[@theresag.1000]

It's not an impossible leap. Herbert did write that Alia matured rapidly (I think he wrote alarmingly). It could lend some credibility to Alia as Advisor.

[@ursaber]

@@theresag.1000 but she was still very much a child physically

[@joshualogan7798]

They may GCI Taylor-Joy, down to a toddler, keep the adult voice, but conceal her face like the other Bene Gesserit and Reverend Mothers, to keep the mystery...Anya will also play, the full adult version in, Messiah.

[@ethancoster1324]

She's no adult in Messiah. She's about 14 years old.

[@joshualogan7798]

@@ethancoster1324 My assumption is he's gonna combine Messiah and Children of Dune books together into one whole movie, but call the film, Dune Messiah.

[@ethancoster1324]

@@joshualogan7798 it'd have to be 3 to 4 hours long for the adaptation to be done faithfully.

[@JeffreyBernabe]

no demon baby in the movie

[@FIDreams]

There's no time jump. There's No 3 year time spand. Alia will not be born.

[@mrDredd1966]

This was a very well kept secret...😱

[@thenotoriousgryyn342]

I would’ve liked to have seen her as Princess Irulan, but we’ll have to see how she does as Alia.

[@obscuresoundz]

yes she has a more regal princess look then the lady they chose to be irulan; the current irulan does not have that princess level of of beauty

[@markus9998]

@@obscuresoundz Florence Pugh is probably one of the few actresses of this generation that have real star power. Zendaya also has a good draw but not as an actress. She is okeyish, but not that talented. Her draw comes from beeing an influencer. Taylor-Joy is great but much of it comes from her somehow unique look. Pugh on the other hand is world class actress.

[@daniellambert1217]

i think swapping roles with whose playing Irulan would`ve worked better , i`m amazed i had to scroll this far to hear mention of the princess

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

​@@markus9998 Haven't seen enough of Zendaya or Pugh yet to get a feeling for their range and ability, but from what I've seen of all three, they've all got some serious talent; Pugh in particular impressed me with her physicality in the one other role I've seen.

[@crinklescat1871]

@@markus9998agree. Florence Pugh has killed any role she’s been in and she’s who I pictured as Irulan (Irulan is my favorite character in the book because she’s one of the only ones to show growth and was dealt a horrible hand (Paul was arrogant and honestly could have turned her against the BG if he tried. She already had set morals even though she gave the contraceptives. She never knew that would cause Chani’s death. And I’ll be honest, if I were Irulan I’d have no issue killing Chani. Or Paul. She was never given any agency in her life until she took it. Jessica actually stayed with the BG! While Irulan noped out in messiah.) I hate how they changed Paul in dune part 1 but I get why because no one would fully root for him the way they did had they not. But I’m curious how they are going to show how Paul completely subverts the hero’s role at the end of dune. And in messiah he’s just awful. There are no good guys in this series but I still love Irulan, Stilgar, and Leto II. But Florence is going to be fantastic as Irulan! I don’t like zendaya as Chani although I love Zendaya. I just don’t feel she captures Chani the way I personally saw her. I wish they had at least done a red hair tint. But Florence can walk and move like royalty.

[@General_reader]

Kristen Dunst is the perfect example of a adult child in “an interview with a vampire”

[@Doomxeen]

Very true! I'm surprised I didn't think about the parallel.

[@tmage23]

True but she's always been an incredibly talented actress. It's extremely rare to find a child that can convincingly play that kind of role.

[@LaineyBug2020]

I hope they don't age up Alia. But I also hope we don't get a Renesme situation. I would love seeing her as a prescient vision like they did with Leto in Messiah/Children of Dune in the mini series. I guess no matter what I'll always have my copies of that mini series to comfort myself with lol!

[@mikeat2637]

One thing that cannot be denied is the amazing performance of Daniela Amavia as Alia in Children of Dune. Over the top of course, but a great performance and character nonetheless. Her mental interactions with the spirit of Baron Harkonnen were a thing of beauty and that last scene before she kills herself is just stupifying.

[@bombsawaylemay770]

She did a great job in The Northman

[@drgordo112]

That was the first 4K disc I bought when I started my new physical media collection. I recommend the audio commentary!

[@Memnoch_the_Devil]

What DOESNT she do a great job in??? Lol

[@JSTmore]

Thia is so true lol She's legit good in everything she plays​@Memnoch_the_Devil

[@wjbt3]

​@@Memnoch_the_Devil👀 my favorite Anne Rice novel. Also the answer is: ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

[@1977Yakko]

She's great in The Witch as well.

[@DanielMalkBH]

Performance Capture has come a long way since "The Two Towers" until reaching its full potential in "Alita". It would be awesome to see the character growing up in front of our yes while being played by the same actress.

[@JezzaBondiBeach]

When I see an older Alia… I picture her ! This is amazing news 🔥

[@koko40800]

Yes ATJ has that otherworldly quality that's perfect for Alia

[@vongoethe111]

Agreed!!

[@motor4X4kombat]

To be fair i imagene Taylor Joy as Irulan insted of Florence Pugh. This choice could go either groundbreaking like gollum or fail at every level as the CGbaby from twilight.

[@JezzaBondiBeach]

@@motor4X4kombat in Dennis we trust

[@djdksf1]

I kind of expected this. Villeneuve is sidestepping the landmine of trying to shoehorn a child actor into what is essentially an impossible character to portray realistically. By not literally showing us a toddler that talks like a wise old woman, the audience doesn't have to try to shoehorn the concept into their brains visually. It can happen naturally, in our imaginations, where it belongs. Anya will be amazing as a fully grown Alia, and I'm relieved that we don't have to see some kid's performance tweaked into something 'believable' or, worse, some CGI trickery that would take me completely out of the movie. Denis knows exactly what he's doing. /rant

[@NerdCookies]

Very well put and I completely agree

[@ethancoster1324]

She'd be great in a Children of Dune Alia adaptation.

[@user-fx5cd4px3k]

1984 Alia was perfect

[@dearashad]

@@user-fx5cd4px3kso creepy. I’m aware that’s what made her perfect, but goodness.

[@neutral_10]

Disagree while I agree it would be challenging I think in the hands of the right filmmaker it could be done

[@michaelnorman4476]

If they snuck Anya in there, it’s possible that they could sneak a child actor in. My first hope is that she’s just the voice that you hear for the child actor. My second hope would be that they somehow de-age her so that she can play both younger and older versions of herself.

[@wisenige]

Exactly!

[@theemissary1313]

Given how otherworldly she looks, I think Villeneuve could still pull it out of left field and have her CGIed as an infant Alia. Either way, I'll still be going to watch it.

[@trenwilson6613]

An adult vision of Alia could be a good way to show her as being preborn, the body of a child with the spirit or soul of an adult.

[@MrTotalAhole]

Black Phillip says "She's always been a witch. No matter if in times past, or times future." Thanks NC!

[@christopheraquino9214]

Portraying Alia as an adult makes sense cinematically. A child actor couldn't portray Alia's depth of knowledge and intelligence. In the book, Alia is said to have an accelerated body growth as well as her mental acuity. Though she is definitely a child in the first book she has adult Benegeserit mental capacity. So, in a movie adaptation, it would make sense to show Alia as an adult. I think the decision to make Alia an adult is a good one.

[@lucyrobinson2814]

I honestly thought and hoped she would play Irulan.

[@alistaircampbell]

DUNE Part 2 just got way more interesting to me now that Anya Taylor-Joy is in it.!, I think she is great.

[@Elidrys]

She would be great as Alia in Messiah, but too old for child Alia in the end of Dune. I will be curious to see how they do it. I could see them having her doing voice work in Dune, but that's it. That would make sense, as you say she is born like an adult mentally, but has to grow into herself physically. So excited for Messiah - hope we don't have to wait too many years.

[@1183newman]

She appears to paul in visions and lady jessica speaks to alia in the womb.

[@motor4X4kombat]

As for Mesiah i wish they cast James Mcavoy as Older Paul since he already played Paul's son in the children of dune miniseries. It would be clever casting

[@big_dave_7178]

Chalamet feels too young for Paul in Messiah. But if they recast him, do they recast all the other main actors who are supposed to have aged 12 years (Stilgar, Gurney, Jessica etc)? They need to make Paul look 14 years older than Alia which would be tricky given the actors are the same age.

[@motor4X4kombat]

@@big_dave_7178 the old character could be the same actors with some make up in it. As for the young characters while i have an idea of who could be an older chamalet i have no idea who could be an older zendaya. The only option i have in mind is Naomi Harris

[@MrGlenbw]

That would've been a massive change in the Dune lore if Anna's playing THAT character (Denis did a nice lore tweak to how space folding works) but aging her from toddler to adult in just two years is an absolute stretch and hard to swallow, even with excuses like the Water of Life. The only way they can pull that off though is if they pulled a trick from Children of Dune miniseries where Leto II from the future communicates to Paul via a vision.

[@sgt.grinch3299]

Another Dune video, another View. This would be an awesome addition. Thank you Elaine.

[@Outermindmedia]

I have loved Anya since The VVitch. She'll kill the role. Maybe Denis did some weird CGI facial mapping on an animatronic baby or Cabbage Patch doll. 😂😂😂

[@Banzai431]

Woweee. Casting her is actually pretty great! I'm really curious how she'll appear in the film now. CGI? Hmmm.

[@annavorobiev5081]

I think she is made for this role. The moment I saw her picture I knew it could only be Alia. Now I can't even imagine anyone else playing her.

[@Ricksterrrrrrr]

HAVE I ACHIEVED PRESCIENCE??! I was at the gym on Monday, pondering the naked bot training Alia does in Messiah. Started wondering who they would cast and those big eyes popped into my mind. Wild!

[@Shaitanshammer]

I guess we can scratch the iconic moment of Alia revealing to and dispatching her grandfather (and the Emperor) with Atreides Gom Jabber off the list. Which is ashame and tragic. Lynch handled that well and the whole was expanded on in Syfy Channel miniseries. I bet there's no Captain Ashram which helps show Paul using the knifes edge to take the Imperium by providing a Hobson's Choice to the Emperor and Choam.

[@urthondurdie]

The killing of the Baron never seemed that important to me, so I think it could as well be handled in dialoge remarks.

[@branmakmorn]

At least Denis didn't chicken out about including Alia.

[@gnomechomsky2524]

I mean she kills the Baron which is a pretty big plot point

[@scovafd]

Alia is in the movie, but don't be so sure it's as we all assume.

[@urthondurdie]

May be a plot point for a holywood movie, but in the greater scheme of the six novels, it is pretty neglectible.@@gnomechomsky2524

[@AriManPad8gi]

always enjoy your content and commentary. always so insightful and honest

[@joelholtzman609]

She is Alia, there is no doubt about that. Not only because the actress is a great fit in terms of presence, but also due to the fact that ATJ is an A-list actor and they are not going to waste her on an insignificant character. Considering Alia is a key character in Messiah I think they are going to set her up in this film in a minor role. How they are going to convey Paul is 15 years older than Alia once Messiah releases, I dont know (considering Chalamet is only 1 year older than ATJ). Perhaps they are going to take artistic liberties and physically-as well as mentally age her more rapidly? Considering she is conscious in the womb and all. Curious to see their choices!

[@urthondurdie]

It is not that hard to change an acotors face by make up.

[@joelholtzman609]

@@urthondurdie but it looks bad most of the time, especially since Chalamet has a pretty young face for his age, while ATJ has a more mature face (in the slim chance she reads this, I mean this in the best way possible ;-)

[@JSBallard]

Perhaps she’ll “speak” to Jessica in the film and through her Gom Jabar the hell out of the Baron

[@benjamingardner3774]

The problem with that is that it implies Jessica herself is also an abomination

[@Sketchborne]

You're one of the best lore informants 😁. imo, she's a fantastic actor. I wish Magick (new mutants failed movie) would get her own movie.

[@KipIngram]

I think focusing the movies on "the Paul story" is likely the only way to make it fit into even a two-movie format "really good." I've seen part 1, of course, and I think they did an excellent job.

[@turbolid]

In the prequel to the Orphan movie, they found a way to Isabelle Fuhrman to look like a young child again by the use of makeup tp make her look like a child again and the position of the cameras in order to her look small. They can do that to Anya too by the use of makeup and the position of the cameras. Other movies that did that were the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies where the actors playing the hobbits had a similar size to the other actors, but thanks to some camera and enveironment tricks they appeared in screen as if they were of small size.

[@robmartin9782]

She's an excellent choice for that role. I also wonder if we'll see a surprise for the role of Count Fenring. Haven't seen him in the cast list, only his wife, played by Léa Seydoux.

[@donodyn2715]

She seems perfect casting for older Alia and I'm glad that they found a way to fast-forward or skip-over her portrayal as an infant.

[@RS8XB]

I think she'll be Paul's sister

[@galihjati443]

in Paul's Head : A tall blonde woman, green-eyed, a face of patrician beauty, classic in its hauteur, untouched by tears, completely undefeated.

[@Cifer77]

They could be going with using her voice with an actual infant on screen, combined with visions of what she will look like in the future.

[@quentincollins1825]

Aside from the occasional aesthetic tweak, IMHO Villeneuve has achieved the closest possible approximation of Herbert's byzantine universe. I am very, very hopeful and excited! 🙏

[@vongoethe111]

All I can say is that reviews are stellar and no one seems to have a problem with the characters or portrayals.

[@doobadood]

I agree. Some book "purist" might be disappointed but as a film alone, it clears from what i've heard.

[@gadfly149]

Don’t forget Harah and her children, a key story element in Paul’s learning Fremen ways, especially when part one emphasized “friend of Jamis”. It’s probably Alia, but I’m just floating the idea of Paul’s responsibility to Jamis’ family after his Amtal challenge.

[@caronstout354]

Harah and her children were glossed over in DUNE1984..hope they're in the new film.

[@eamonnholland5343]

She won't be Harah. Look at what they did with the casting. All the Fremen are black or Middle Eastern. Only the Sardaukar and Harkonnen are exclusively White, with Atreides being a mix.

[@josenathanieltendencia245]

I too also have recommendations for anya taylor joy as princess irulan as first instance. She got the features fit as said in the book. Hope we'll see her as adult Alia in later dune movies.

[@BairMendoza]

She was my casting choice for Irulan too, but I’ll take it!!! ❤️‍🔥🏜️🐛

[@b_g_c3281]

I have no words, other than::.. ....Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia(( _"....Of The Knife"_ )) is simply a _superlative_ choice!!! [[ ...And it'll be yet another reason behind my *abject hopeless-pointless* crush on her❤😢 ]] _...She'll absolutely slay it!!!_

[@drgordo112]

We need to cast a crazy spice baby, but an adult... ANYA!

[@Running-withscissors]

Just watched Chris Gores coverage on PT II. I DO hope you take him up on joining him on Film Threat to discuss the film in more depth in Film Threat!

[@nemomarc7841]

We are going to discover Anya Taylor-Joy in ALIA yes I remember in David Lynch's version of DUNE Alia was younger and of great power.

[@A.D.5]

That would compete the saga her life was short lived of her rapid growth but put her purpose was the prophecy a downfall on the harchonans

[@Marcelo83uk]

Got my tickets booked for Friday... absolutely cannot wait! Imax Manchester here we come at last ✌️

[@JagsNoles28]

Also just thought of this if they are compressing the timeline where Alia is not born yet that would also mean no Leto the 2nd (first one) so no death of Paul’s first born.

[@GreatGreebo]

You are the Dune Whisperer *Nerd Cookies* …..and I appreciate it. THANK YOU!

[@kevindespot3525]

Since the announcement of this new Dune adaptation, I swore Anya was a ringer for Irulan. Something about her physical features and poise just seems... imperial, regal, majestic, something very refined. As to her for Alia Atreides, I buy in to the idea that the Alia actress has to portray a pre-born person who has more maturity than any living human, and having that role played by an adult makes some sense; it's not really Alia's physical age or form that's significant, it's her memories, knowledge, ideas, and voice. But I will say, if studios don't plan on making a Children of Dune/Dune Messiah and keeping Anya as Alia going mad with abomination - I think that's a wasted gold mine right there. I'm sure she could kill in that role!

[@black487]

I watched a nerd cookies video, so I am in fact having a very nerdy day

[@JagsNoles28]

Although it’s concerning from early reviews I will wait until I see it on screen. Think it may work. Also an embryonic child speaking to her mother through the womb is still pretty freaking strange don’t think we losing that.

[@doreck07]

But that's literally what happens to Alia in the book. She becomes an adult baby essentially in many ways.

[@JagsNoles28]

@@doreck07 yes I was just saying we are not losing the weirdness of her. But she does not like talk in the womb in the book. She soothes her daughter presents in the womb during the change, the water of life. It never like verbal communication.

[@keanenfulton4696]

Woah this just got interesting!

[@jessesmith-garcia5313]

March 1, 2024 isn't going to come soon enough, thanks for the update!

[@princeprocrastinate6485]

I'm very glad I watched this video. I knew Anya had to be playing Alia, but the part about Alia not physically appearing in the film and just sort of acting as a guide for Jessica, speaking from the womb, I don't think I would've liked it but now that I'm going in to this film expecting that I may be more accepting of it.

[@ChristopherB123]

I'm at least as concerned about what this means for Messiah as for part 2. If Denis makes another movie before that, it will be at least 3 more years... she'll be 30. She's roughly the same age as Chalamet, Pugh, and Zendaya (they are all within a year of each other) yet she's supposed to be playing a 15yo who is just coming into her adulthood while their characters are all around 30. I mean, she's a talented actor and has portrayed someone younger (i.e., queens gambit) but playing someone even younger than that character when she's 7-8 years older seems like a stretch (even for a world where we just accept that giant sand worms and gholas are real)

[@felipes.8177]

Saw the film yesterday at a fan event. AMAZING!

[@londomolari5715]

I guess I like the casting. We'll just have to see how it works out. As some mentioned below motion capture has come a long way, and so it's possible the A T-J will be mocapped. Although a toddler/child walks much differently than an adult. Maybe they'll get Andy Serkis to do the motion and comp A T-J over (not a serious idea).

[@A.D.5]

Denies you should put that in the script of part three for the closure of Dune that would be superburb

[@pablofelman5619]

🙌🏽 "Bendito el hacedor y su agua" (bless the maker and his water) saludos from 🇦🇷

[@mudbutton2]

I was hoping she'd play Irulan. But I also think Flo will impress. I think it's likely also, that adult Alia could appear in one of Paul's visions.

[@tekkblade82]

They should do what was done in the Captain America: The First Avenger film, use a child actor to get the body of Alia then superimpose the face and acting of Anya Taylor-Joy onto the body.

[@paulsnell534]

I wanted Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Irulan too. The other actress I thought who would have been good as Princess Irulan was Abbey Lee

[@DavidJackRabbit]

If no time has really passed since part one during part two that means Paul and Chani won't have their first son Leto who is killed by Rabon then, he is literally just screwing up the entire story and plot point at this point with the huge amount of changes . Also who will be the one to kill the Baron for it can not be Paul because Paul already knows that if he actually ever met his grandfather that he would convince him to turn on the fremen...

[@Age_of_Apocalypse]

Nerd Cookies, "you're conflicted about those changes", that make at least two(2) of us. Many Thanks for the video: 👍👍👏

[@robdixson196]

She would work for Irulan, but she is PERFECT for Alia. If she is Aiia it means the next movie will have prophetic scenes from the future with her, it also means there are definitely plans to go ahead and do the next book.

[@TheGadgetPanda]

I guess this means we'll miss the single best moment from the 1984 film (and arguably in the entirety of film history), where she screeches "And how can this beeeeee? For he *is* the Kwisatz Haderach!"

[@jburgs100]

ss it possible she is Lady Margaret Fenring, I mean she is also an important charcater and was left out of the originl and the miniseries, and she is very complex and the equivalent of jessica. i think that this is more likley I dont think he would veer so much from the source and ageup Alia

[@big_dave_7178]

I suspect they'll have her interacting with Jessica inside Jessica's memories. Side-stepping depiction of the preborn feels like a cop out and effectively close the door on Children of Dune.

[@Zaptagious]

I also feel it would be a cop-out to diminish Alia's role like this. But it's a super diffiicult character to get right... On iMDB there is an entry for "Baby Jessica" by someone called Zoe Kata Kaska, so maybe there are some surprises left in store. But then again perhaps the entry is just a stand-in for Alia and Zoe Kata Kaska is just a pseudonym.

[@kofeyh]

There is just no way to really portray Alia at the age per the book, without it being uncanny valley (or just plain bad). Just about any combination of CGI, dubbing over another actress, etc, is going to pretty much pull people out of the experience. It may be more that we see Alia the way the characters do (based on having all the knowledged of a reverend mother) vs actual age at the time the events take place. There is perhaps more challenge and advantage in doing that, vs trying to mimic a very problematic-to-portray part of the book.

[@ratelofverdun]

I think this makes sense from a logistics point of view. The restrictions on how you can use a child actor, filming on location in the desert, and additionally, actually casting a child actor that would be good enough to portray Alia well enough for a product of this quality. With a project this big, it's a legitimate decision Villeneuve made IMO

[@A.D.5]

part three Dune is going to be where Alia atredies is going to be grown up, she rapidly grew with all the powers of the benigeserit sisterhood when she was in lady Jessica‘s womb so in this part of part three Dune, she will help her older brother in the holy war because she’s strong. And cunning and wise with her powers of all of the sisterhood and when the holy war is just at a ending she will grow old but she will be remembered as Paul’s short lived sister played her part to help her older brother Win the holy war And the fremen to win the holy war by Paul but her life span was her purpose to help her older brother obtain and pursue justice in the holy war with her help, it would’ve never been without her in the prophecy !!!!!!!!!

[@A.D.5]

Her rapid growth and Dune part three is going to be where she helps her brother Paula Alia grew in order for the prophecy to be to win the holy war, to help Paul a in the holy war has been won, Alia, Paul sister will grow old and quick, short-lived lifespan since she inherited all of the sisterhood but with all the powers of the sisterhood, it is only temporary. Her lifespan is cut short, but her lifespan was for a reason in the prophecy to help her older brother Paul, and to win the holy war with his sister. You should have that in the script for the last dune part three it will be wicked🤘🏻

[@geohawk6337]

I know I'm late to the party saying this, but I'm really glad you got your into music back. It's excellent.

[@toh786]

I loved the actress and she was also one of my picks for Irulan - Looking forward to seeing her!

[@jackkennard4539]

I agree a Nun! But for the time frame, one of Princess Irulan's spies could be a better choice?

[@raymalik5171]

It was such a nice surprise to see Anya Taylor-Joy in the film, can't wait to see her in future installments!

[@MilesTeg_cy]

Mother and daughter is speaking to each other even before birth. We will be seeing this a few times during the movie. These talks will be Alia as a future adult bec. she is pre-born and already reached her adulthood in mind before birth.

[@urthondurdie]

That makes the most sense.

[@captainziggy82]

Soooooooo excited for this, the reviews are SINGING its praise

[@accolade8060]

The late reveal of Anya’s involvement makes me hopeful for the idea that we will see Count Fenring also. We know Tim Blake Nelson is involved with Dune 2, but it has not yet been revealed whether he is Fenring.

[@Gojirastar5477]

The casting of Anya Taylor-Joy is good for an adult Alia in Dune Messiah & Children of Dune. My concern here is that by straying from the books we're going to lose some great characterization with Alia. What happens when the Emperor's Sardaukar bring Alia before the Emperor? "I do not take the Emperor's orders," Alia said. She turned to look up at the old Reverend Mother. "She knows." The emperor glanced up at his Truthsayer. "What does she mean?" "That child is an abomination!" the old woman said. "Her mother deserves a punishment greater than anything in history! Death! It cannot come quickly for that child or the one who spawned her!" The old woman pointed a finger at Alia. "Get out of my mind!"... . Dune pages 461 to 461. By aging Alia to an adult ruins this interaction between Alia, Shaddam, Mohiem & the Baron.

[@wisenige]

Exactly!

[@Boethius4748]

The key being IF they age her up. I saw someone else mention in a comment about how LoTR did Gimli. That could work. If anyone could pull it off it’s probably DV. I guess we’ll see. I can understand the difficulty he would have trying to adapt the character, but I agree an aged up Alia just isn’t right.

[@wisenige]

@@Boethius4748 SPOILERS If anyone else other than an unruly child Alia kills the Baron, I’m gonna be PISSED! I’m probably still gonna love the movie though. But this is the opportunity to truly do something next-level with CGI and motion capture.

[@Gojirastar5477]

@@Boethius4748 I hope that this is a case of that they haven't announced the child actor playing Alia. I can see an older child playing Alia but not an adult in this part of the story.

[@Boethius4748]

@@wisenige I totally agree. It has to be her. Especially when we know how things go in a later book. I really hope he swings something with CGI to make her look like a child.

[@markusrobinson3858]

I don't really care about the actress one way or the other. But if the child-version of Alia-the-Knife doesn't kill Baron Vladamir Harkonnen, I'm going to be pissed. That would be a travesty!

[@moonborn-musti6051]

Then be ready for a letdown.Rumors and spoilers indicates that sequence is not book accurate.

[@markusrobinson3858]

God I hope the rumors are wrong. It's one thing to have Gurney Halleck kill Beast Raban (since the book doesn't specify how he dies). It's quite another to so change the story (incidentally of how Alia got her 'Knife' moniker during that battle) that the grand-daughter doesn't do in the grandfather. SAD if true! @@moonborn-musti6051

[@urthondurdie]

Well, any actress who is familiar with the Alia character would kill to play that role. Who, if not Anya can do this? Let's face it, the baby Alia in Dune Vol.1 isn't that important, the foreshadowing menace of teenage Alia is way more important.

[@imaginemyshock8067]

For my part I'm okay with an adult young Alia; in fact, I suggested this here some time ago as the way to overcome the limitations of trying to have an actual child portray having the mind of adult women. The maturity of the mind affects behavior, body language and mannerisms that no child could portray convincingly. It's easy to write Alia as a child in the book because it's just words on paper; live acting is very different. So to me creating a concept of the Water Of Life causing not only a premature birth but a rapid speed of maturation of the body is possibly the best way of overcoming this hurdle.

[@grahamcann1761]

I understand your concern, and I don't think it's unwarranted; but isn't it possible there is a child actor(s) involved, but there will be special effects involved to manipulate the image to resemble Anya Taylor-Joy? As always, thank you so very much for the videos.

[@garynevills5562]

Oddly enough, my first thought was she was playing Margot, Lady Fenring, the wife of Count Hasimir Fenring. I never even considered Alia because she's, what, 5 or 6 during the events at the end of Dune?

[@hendrsb33]

As for Alia, I've always wondered if it was possible for a child actor to portray the gravitas of a mature adult. Denis may have decided to throw a curve in this instance, but I feel he'll try to stay as true as possible to the source material. He may surprise us.

[@bigdogkool2546]

That sounds like an interesting approach. I am looking forward to the movie.

[@isaganipalanca8803]

It would be unfitting if Vladimir Harkonnen is not killed by the child Alia at the end of Part 2 as portrayed in the book! If there is no child actor, will they use CGI? This does not compute...

[@thedoughnutking9514]

always the best content

[@georgeharrison2795]

The shock people felt when they saw a child and Alia showed her power and knowledge was in my opinion an important factor, especially when dealing with the reverend mother, and why she should appear as a child, she was scary as hell

[@purplemicrodot58]

I have some confidence that they can make this work. I just hope that Denis is considering that most adaptations that are extra careful not to stray from the source material are generally better received.

[@chadhetzel]

I am all in as she is simply fantastic! Just 2 things. It has to be handled in an acceptable manner i.e. believable in relation to the source material, the book. As she only grows to like 7 years old. Obviously if addressed properly, this could be really cool! And secondly, with her in the part they simply HAVE TO greenlight Dune Messiah because her character development in that chapter is insane, lol, literally! And with the storyline threads with Irulan and Chani and now this! My God that could be an amazing movie!

[@bugsbane]

Anya Taylor-Joy ... ! oh wow thank you. mind blown. I think the casting is perfect. And in Dune Meshiah she only BEGINS her descent - so there's a lot to look forward to. Doing Dune Part 3 also allows Irulan to further come into her own protecting Leto III and Ghanima "Shall we proceed?.."

[@unacceptableviews1505]

The Emperors daughter, one of the Bene Gesserit witches, or Paul's sister? It will be interesting to see. I need to catch the first one yet, sigh.

[@leocmen]

Exotically beautiful and perfect to play Alia...

[@ericbrett3095]

Alia, in the 1984 version, was a child who gutted Baron Harkonnen. If I remember correctly Lady Jessica drank the water of life when she was pregnant with Alia and Alia was given the memories and powers of the Benne Geserit

[@beskarman38]

Correction. Although the aftermath of Alia had gone too...overpowering.

[@marcoelhodev]

Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia Atreides could go in so many ways, I won't even listen them all here. Also, I don't want to spoil for those who haven't read the books, but this could go pretty much any way imaginable.

[@ChristopherB123]

If Jessica is still pregnant at the end of the movie, that means not enough time for Leto II the first, removing a big part of the emotional aspects for Paul and Chani compared to the cruelty of the other side. I have a hard time seeing them leave that out. I'm guessing if Denis doesn't want to show a reverend mother toddler, he'll send her south but just not bring her back at the end.