Robert Pattinson is set to play Scytale in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three, adapting one of the most fascinating antagonists from Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah and making him one of the biggest additions to the franchise’s expanding ensemble. Known for taking on unpredictable and layered characters, Pattinson appears to be a natural fit for one of the saga’s most deceptive villains.
In Herbert’s novels, Scytale is a Face Dancer working for the Bene Tleilax, a secretive faction that specializes in genetic engineering and biological manipulation. Face Dancers possess the ability to alter their appearance and impersonate other people, allowing Scytale to infiltrate societies and manipulate events from the shadows. In Dune Messiah, he becomes one of the key figures in a conspiracy against Paul Atreides, using deception and psychological tactics instead of brute force to challenge the Emperor’s rule.
Pattinson’s casting continues the trend of Villeneuve surrounding Timothée Chalamet with some of Hollywood’s most acclaimed performers. If Dune: Part Three closely follows the events of Dune Messiah, Scytale should play a significant role throughout the story, giving Pattinson the chance to portray one of the franchise’s most intelligent and dangerous adversaries. His history of balancing charisma with unpredictability makes him an intriguing choice for a character whose greatest weapon is his ability to become anyone.
READ MORE: Every Denis Villeneuve Movie Ranked, Our Reviews of Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two
