Rebecca Ferguson played a character who displayed some impressive fighting skills in MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – ROGUE NATION and MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT, and it sounds like she might be doing some more fighting in director Denis Villeneuve's upcoming adaptation of the Frank Herbert novel DUNE.
Described as a "mythic and emotionally charged hero's journey", DUNE stars Timothee Chalamet as
Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence – a commodity capable of unlocking humanity's greatest potential – only those who can conquer their fear will survive.
Ferguson's character is Paul's mother Lady Jessica, concubine to Duke Leto Atreides (played by Oscar Isaac). Speaking with Fandom, the actress said,
Something that Denis Villeneuve and the writers have really taken into consideration is [that] this book was written back in the day when women were portrayed differently to what we are expecting nowadays — which we call gender equality. And it’s something that they have taken into consideration making this script. Even though [Lady Jessica] is a concubine to the king, she’s also his bodyguard, his mentor, she can read thought and emotion and she’s the best fighter there is. So there’s a subtle power that she needs to teach her son, [Paul Atreides], played by Timothée Chalamet. It’s a complex story, it’s hard to discuss in one sentence."
She gave a similar quote to ComingSoon, confirming that the film
completely and utterly honors the strength of Jessica – the Bene Gesserit that she is, even though she is a concubine and her rights are not as high as the King or what her son becomes. Denis was very much aligned with creating empowerment and powerful moments for her where they were needed. I think Frank Herbert… when he wrote it he didn’t really live in an understandably equal environment. And the book is great! It has beautiful moments in it. It’s not really where we are or where we should be."
Villeneuve wrote the DUNE screenplay with Eric Roth and Jon Spaihts. He also produced the film with Mary Parent, and Cale Boyter, with Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, Thomas Tull, and Kim Herbert executive producing. Kevin J. Anderson served as creative consultant.
Ferguson, Chalamet, and Isaac are joined in the cast by Stellan Skarsgard as the villainous Baron Harkonnen, Dave Bautista as Harkonnen's brutish nephew Glossu Rabban, Charlotte Rampling as the emperor's truthsayer Reverend Mother Mohiam, Javier Bardem as helpful tribe leader Stilgar, Josh Brolin as troubadour-swordsman Gurney Halleck, Jason Momoa as swordmaster Duncan Idaho, David Dastmalchian as the twisted Piter De Vries, Chang Chen as Atreides family physician Dr. Yueh, and Zendaya as Chani Kynes, "the girl of Paul's dreams".
DUNE is scheduled to reach theatres on December 18, 2020.
In the meantime, Ferguson will be seen as the villain Rose the Hat (pictured above) in the Stephen King adaptation DOCTOR SLEEP, a sequel to THE SHINING. That film is set to be released on November 8th.