Dave Bautista Joins Timothee Chalamet in Denis Villeneuve's 'Dune'

Dave Bautista has joined the high-profile cast of Dune, Legendary’s adaptation of the Frank Herbert novel being directed by Denis Villeneuve.


Timothee Chamalet and Rebecca Ferguson are already toplining the project, which tells the complex story of a fallen noble family’s attempt to control of a desert planet named Arrakis and its export, a rare spice drug, while being betrayed by a galactic emperor.


Chalamet is set to play Paul Atreides, the son of the ruler of the family, who is forced to escape into the desert wastelands and partner with its nomadic tribes. Using enhanced mental abilities, he eventually rises to become their ruler, with the nomads believing he is their messiah, and leads an army to overthrow the empire.


Ferguson will portray Atreides’ mother, Lady Jessica, who escapes with him into the desert and helps him become a savior in their eyes.


Bautista will play "Beast" Rabban, the sadistic nephew of a baron who oversees Arrakis.


Villeneuve, Eric Roth and Jon Spaihts wrote the script. Villeneuve is also producing along with Mary Parent and Cale Boyter.


Bautista previously worked with Villeneuve on 2017's Blade Runner 2049, in which the actor had a key role that featured a smackdown with Ryan Gosling.


Bautista has a big year ahead, with the MMA wrestler turned actor reprising his role of Drax for Avengers: Endgame; starring with Kumail Nanjiani in the Fox action comedy Stuber; and starring in the action-comedy My Spy.