Dune: Part Two will give Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer a run for its money when it comes to stacked casts, as new reports indicate Black Widow star Florence Pugh is in talks to join Denis Villeneuve's highly anticipated sci-fi epic.

Based on the acclaimed 1965 novel by Frank Herbert of the same name, Denis Villeneuve's dream project, Dune, follows the Atreides family accepting the stewardship of the dangerous desert planet Arrakis (also referred to as Dune), which contains the most valuable substance in the universe known as the "spice." Dune was a critical and box office success (especially during a pandemic era), as the sequel film was officially greenlit only a week after the film's theatrical release.

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Deadline now reports that Pugh is in negotiations to join Dune: Part Two. While not confirmed, reports indicate that Pugh will play Princess Irulan Corrino, the eldest daughter to Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV. The Dune sequel is set to begin shooting this summer, with pre-production already underway. Legendary reportedly had no comment on news of Pugh's casting.

With the sequel set to cover the second half of the novel, the film will heavily focus on Paul's relationship with the Fremen group and his journey to becoming the fabled Kwisatz Haderach, as he seeks to lead the rebellion against the Emperor. While Pugh is the first big new addition to the sequel, there has been speculation that Barry Keoghan could fill the role of Harkonnen Feyd-Rautha, the younger nephew and heir of Baron Vladimir Harkonnen and Paul's main foe.

In addition to the greater exploration of Paul's journey, Villeneuve has confirmed Dune: Part Two will be a much more fun film, as he has now laid the groundwork for many of the characters and their arcs. Fans can of course expect more story details and casting news for the sequel to surface online, but until then, they can get lost in the world of Arrakis all over again when Dune returns to HBO Max on March 10th.

As for Pugh, she is cementing herself as one of Hollywood's biggest stars. First starring in the indie film Lady Macbeth, Pugh would find her breakout role with A24's Midsommar before going on to star in other acclaimed works such as Little Women (in which she worked with Dune lead Timothée Chalamet), and Disney Plus' Hawkeye. She is also set to star alongside Harry Styles in Olivia Wilde's sophomore directing effort, Don't Worry Darling, as well as in Nolan's biographical thriller titled Oppenheimer.

Dune: Part Two is set to release in theaters on October 20, 2023.

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Source: Deadline