Dune explores the top levels of its sci-fi society. The lives of ordinary people rarely come up in the tales of Dukes, Emperors, and Princesses. Paul Atreides and his family leave the comfort of the beautiful planet they've ruled for 10,000 years to dominate the galaxy's most critical resource. Above their domination rests the Padishah Emperor, the most powerful man in the universe. His daughter, Princess Irulan Corrino, is a fascinating part of the story.
Dune: Part Two features a staggering ensemble cast. The first film introduced several excellent casting decisions, some outside the box and others more predictable. The sequel had so many beloved performers on the call sheet that it could afford to hide a couple of them. Princess Irulan is portrayed by one of several heavy hitters, though she doesn't get as much screen time as some would think.
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Who Is Princess Irulan In Dune?
Princess Irulan Corrino was born on Kaitain in 10176 AG. She was the eldest daughter of her father, Padishah Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV, and her mother, Anirul. Shaddam IV was the 81st Emperor in the Corrino dynasty, which ruled the Known Universe for almost 10,000 years. Irulan was Shaddam IV's heir, destined to take the throne when her father died. She was expected to marry a political ally, keeping House Corrino in power even as the Emperor's name changed. Her mother, Anirul, was a Bene Gesserit Sister. She was raised to be a noblewoman and a Bene Gesserit but never excelled at either. She was independent, ambitious, strong-willed, and proud. Her personality didn't inspire faith in her parents. She was to be an asset, valued more for her station than her identity.
Shaddam IV wanted to marry Irulan to Duke Leto Atreides, but their age difference rendered that union untenable. Instead, Shaddam IV betrayed House Atreides to prevent Leto from challenging his throne. Shaddam conspired with House Harkonnen, moving House Atreides to Arrakis. Once there, he unleashed his Imperial Sardaukar forces with the Harkonnen army to eliminate House Atreides. The Emperor enjoyed only partial success, killing Leto but leaving his concubine Jessica and son Paul alive. Shaddam IV planned to wed Irulan to na-Baron Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, the family's most promising son. Irulan despised the arrangement, and she was lucky enough to see it undone. Paul Muad'Dib Atreides led the Fremen of Arrakis in a series of violent uprisings, eventually culminating in a duel to the death with Feyd-Rautha. Her betrothed lay dead, leaving Irulan to make a deal for her father's life. She'd marry Paul Atreides, making him the Emperor, while Shaddam IV would enter exile. House Corrino stayed in power but with their nemesis on the throne. Many of her best contributions are stellar quotes like this one:
Deep in the human unconscious is a pervasive need for a logical universe that makes sense, But the real universe is always one step beyond logic.
Who Plays Irulan In Dune: Part 2?
Florence Pugh plays Princess Irulan in Dune: Part Two. As in the book, the character is the de facto narrator of the sequel. Her dialogue opens the piece and carries through the film. Florence Pugh is a massive star, delivering outstanding performances across various styles and genres. Her take on Yelena Belova in the Marvel Cinematic Universe earns praise from those who hate those films. Before Dune: Part Two, she starred in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer and Hayao Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron. She is on an astonishing run this year. Fans are thrilled to see what she does next.
What Is Irulan's Role in the Rest of the Dune Series?
Irulan's semi-forced marriage doesn't go well. She agrees to wed Paul under the false belief that she'll bear his children and continue the Corrino dynasty. Irulan is unaware of Paul's Fremen concubine, Chani. Paul deeply loves Chani, only wasting his time with Irulan to take the office she represents. In Dune Messiah, Irulan and Chani quarrel quietly to birth Paul's children. Irulan surreptitiously drugs Chani to keep her infertile, but Chani eventually adopts a traditional diet to avoid her poison. Chani gave birth to Paul's twin children, Leto II and Ghanima. Irulan felt tremendous guilt after Chani died in childbirth. Paul lost his sight to an assassination attempt and then lost his prescience to the unexpected birth of his son. He wandered off into the desert, as is tradition for blind Fremen. Irulan devoted herself to House Atreides, becoming Leto and Ghanima's guardian with Paul's sister's blessing.
Princess Irulan is dragged along through the plot, rarely taking action to change the narrative. Dune makes her a puppet of her father's whims until the man who unseats him takes her as his bride. She's happy to accept, but she's being tricked. It suggests unpleasant truths about the place of even the most powerful women in a feudal patriarchal system. Princess Irulan is Paul Atreides' key to the Empire, but she could have been so much more.
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The go-to aerial vehicle on Arrakis is a complex mechanical marvel with a variety of designs and explanations.
