Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Frank Herbert's Dune and Dune: Part Two.
Summary
- Florence Pugh joined the cast of Dune 2 as Princess Irulan, and her character will have an expanded role in the upcoming sequel.
- Princess Irulan is a member of the Bene Gesserit Order, with an expanded mental capacity and heightened senses that make her perceptive and knowledgeable.
- Princess Irulan becomes engaged to Paul Atreides at the end of Dune 2, and the next movie will likely show them getting married.
Florence Pugh stars as Princess Irulan in the cast of Dune 2, and there are a few important things to know about her character after seeing the movie. The sequel finishes the story that begins in Dune, covering the second half of Frank Herbert's novel of the same name. The Dune 2 cast features a host of new characters from Herbert's novel, and Pugh is one of the most notable actors who fill one of those roles. However, after playing a relatively insignificant part in Dune 2's story, Princess Irulan will undoubtedly have a bigger presence in the franchise's future.
Princess Irulan is the daughter of Emperor Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken), and although the character is relatively absent in the original novel, Pugh's minimal role in Dune 2 is disappointing. Pugh is one of the most well-known actresses in Denis Villeneuve's dread-inducing and awe-inspiring sequel, and as such, anticipation for her arrival was high. Nevertheless, the upcoming third film Dune: Messiah should feature more of Princess Irulan, and several facts about her character will be useful for viewers to know before seeing the film.
10 Princess Irulan Is A Bene Gesserit Of Hidden Rank
The Bene Gesserit Trained The Princess From A Young Age
One critical thing to know about Princess Irulan is that she is a member of Dune's Bene Gesserit Order. However, her rank within the order is kept concealed from the public. As a member of the Bene Gesserit, Princess Irulan has an expanded mental capacity and heightened senses that make her far more perceptive than a normal person. She is also presumably capable of altering her body chemistry through her own will, which is one of the most impressive abilities developed by the Sisterhood.
Princess Irulan is well-positioned to gather information for her writings, and her Bene Gesserit training gives her the expanded mental capacity to remember virtually everything she hears.
The Bene Gesserit are also extremely well-educated, and Princess Irulan has an especially deep understanding of history. As far as Bene Gesserit members go, Princess Irulan is thought to be one of the weaker additions to the order, but she is profoundly more intelligent than the average person and fully capable of being a deadly spy. Notably, Princess Irulan is not thought to have any aptitude with the Voice, which is further proved when she doesn't display the ability to use the Voice in Dune 2.
Where To Watch Dune 2: Showtimes & Streaming Status
The wait for Denis Villeneuve's Dune sequel is now over, and there are options for where to watch Dune 2 with theater showtimes or on streaming.
9 Princess Irulan Is A Historian
Excerpts From The Princess' Various Writings Are Found At The Beginning Of Most Chapters In Dune
Princess Irulan is also a historian, and while most of her notable work is completed after the events in Dune, she began some of these writings before the movie's timeline. Herbert's Dune books often introduce chapters with excerpts from the Princess' journal entries, which are used as a valuable form of world-building. Pugh's character even narrates parts of her writing in Dune 2. Ultimately, Princess Irulan is well-positioned to gather information for her writings, and her Bene Gesserit training gives her the expanded mental capacity to remember virtually everything she hears.
8 Princess Irulan Is The Eldest Of The Emperor's Five Daughters
Princess Irulan And Her Sisters Are Members Of The Imperial House Of Corrino
Princess Irulan is the eldest of Dune's Emperor Shaddam IV's five daughters, and his desire to have a son made the lives of his daughters difficult. As the oldest, Irulan had a pampered childhood, and her father treated her as his heir when it became apparent he wouldn't have a son. Irulan's importance as an Imperial family member encouraged the Bene Gesserit to train her for their own purposes. It's also likely that Shaddam's wife, who was also Bene Gesserit, was ordered to bear only daughters to the emperor.
Dune: Part Two is available to rent or buy on digital platforms such as Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV, and more.
7 Princess Irulan Is Torn Between Loyalty To House Corrino And The Bene Gesserit
Princess Irulan Is Loyal To Both Until Those Loyalties Collide
Princess Irulan's loyalties might be tested in Dune: Messiah as she attempts to balance the devotion she owes her father (and Paul Atreides) with the allegiance demanded by the Bene Gesserit. As a Bene Gesserit member, Princess Irulan is expected to obey any orders received from high-ranking members. But the Bene Gesserit begins to use Princess Irulan as a source of information and a tool of manipulation, so she has to decide whether her family or the Sisterhood means more to her. Unfortunately, Dune 2 doesn't cover this struggle from the books, but future installments in the franchise may address it.
Princess Irulan's position often makes her a pawn in the hands of either her father or the Bene Gesserit, which she despises.