Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Dune: Part Two

Summary

• Baron Harkonnen's death is dramatically altered in Dune 2 compared to the book, with Paul exacting revenge in an explosive climax.
• Dune: Part Two diverges from the book by giving Chani greater agency and omitting Alia's significant role in the plot and Baron's fate.
• The downfall of House Harkonnen is inevitable after the deaths of the Baron and Feyd-Rautha, leading to a shift in power dynamics.

Baron Vladimir Harkonnen's death in Dune: Part Two is a dramatic moment in the movie's already explosive climax, but the scene is radically altered from the original version seen in Frank Herbert's 1965 Dune novel. Like Dune (2021), Dune: Part Two follows the broad narrative beats of the source material, charting Paul's rise as the war leader and messianic Muad'Dib. However, while Villeneuve's first movie made subtle adjustments to the story, Dune: Part Two has some major differences from the book – including the Baron's shocking death.

Although Dune: Part Two's story changes are evident throughout, there are some areas where the movie diverges more dramatically. One is in the treatment of Chani (played by Zendaya), who is given far greater agency than her book counterpart – even abandoning Paul in Dune: Part Two's heartbreaking ending. Another major difference is in the movie's failure to properly introduce Alia Atreides, Paul's unborn sister who spends the entire film in utero. It is this decision more than any other that radically alters how Vladimir Harkonnen meets his end.

How Baron Harkonnen's Death Is Different In Dune 2 Compared To The Book

In Dune: Part Two, Baron Harkonnen is killed by Paul when his army of Fremen breaks into the imperial complex on Arrakis. After being reprimanded by Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV prior to Paul's arrival, the Baron desperately attempts to crawl up the steps to reach the emperor's throne – the ultimate object of his ambition. However, he is helpless when Paul arrives on the scene and stabs him in the throat, exacting revenge for his father's death in Dune (2021).

This moment is very different from the novel, as in the book it is not Paul who kills Baron Harkonnen at all. Instead, his death is called by Alia, who despite being a toddler, has been pre-born with all the knowledge of previous generations of Reverend Mothers, and so is intellectually an adult. Alia poisons the Baron with the Gom Jabbar, previously used to test Paul and Feyd-Rautha, and also reveals to him the Atreides' familial ties to the Harkonnens. While both versions result in Vladimir Harkonnen's death, the perpetrator and circumstances differ enormously.

Why Paul Killing Baron Harkonnen In Dune 2 Is Better Than The Book's Death

While Alia's actions in the original Dune novel help establish her character ahead of future Dune stories, the changes in Dune: Part Two suit the movie's narrative far better. On one level, Paul killing the Baron brings his revenge story full circle. It grants him closure after the dramatic death of his friends and family and acts as a satisfying moment of catharsis. Another character killing him simply wouldn't be as satisfying for either the audience or Paul himself.

A further consideration is that sticking to the novel's story would have radically altered Dune: Part Two's entire plot. Although the decision to leave out Alia from the movie is controversial, it also makes sense. Her genetic memory and adult sensibilities, coupled with her child's body, make her an extremely difficult character to portray – as demonstrated by David Lynch's noble but ultimately weird attempt in 1984. Having Alia kill the Baron would have forced Dune: Part Two to wrestle with all the other problematic aspects of her character, complicating an already multifaceted story even further.

What Happens To House Harkonnen After The Baron & Feyd-Rautha's Deaths

With Baron Harkonnen's death, rulership over the great house briefly passed to his nephew and Na-Baron, Feyd-Rautha. However, when Paul defeated Feyd-Rautha in a duel, killing him in the process, House Harkonnen effectively ceased to exist. Although the Bene Gesserit had preserved its bloodline thanks to Margot Fenring, it was no longer one of the Great Houses of the Landsraad.

According to later Dune books, the Harkonnen homeworld of Geidi Prime ultimately fell under the jurisdiction of Caladan. As Gurney Halleck was given the fief to rule by Paul, this made Halleck the de facto ruler of Geidi Prime. The fact that Halleck assumes control of the planet demonstrates the total collapse of Harkonnen authority following the dramatic climax of Dune: Part Two.