Anya Taylor-Joy To Appear In ‘Dune: Part Two’ In Surprise Casting

Anya Taylor-Joy will be seen on screen in Dune: Part 2, in a surprise casting revealed the day of the film’s London world premiere, Deadline has confirmed.

She joins a list of newcomers that includes Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Léa Seydoux, Souheila Yacoub, Christopher Walken and Tim Blake Nelson. Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya lead the sequel, with Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Javier Bardem Stellan Skarsgård and Charlotte Rampling also returning.

Details as to Taylor-Joy’s role are under wraps. Dune: Part Two is the second in a line of blockbusters, based on Frank Herbert’s epic sci-fi novel, that Denis Villeneuve has directed for Warner Bros and Legendary Entertainment. The first, released in the fall of 2021, landed six Oscars and grossed over $402MM worldwide.

The new film picks up with Paul Atreides (Chalamet) as he unites with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Villeneuve penned the script and produced alongside Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Tanya Lapointe and Patrick McCormick. Josh Grode, Herbert W. Gains, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, Kim Herbert, Thomas Tull, Jon Spaihts, Richard P. Rubinstein and John Harrison exec produced, with Kevin J. Anderson as creative consultant. While the film was originally slated for release on November 3rd, it pushed to March 1st due to the impossibility of talent PR amidst last year’s double strike.

Best known for turns in Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit, Robert Egger’s A24 pic The Witch and Searchlight’s The Menu, Taylor-Joy most recently portrayed Princess Peach in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which was one of the big box office successes of 2023. Among other upcoming projects for her is Warner Bros’ Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which has her portraying Imperator Furiosa. That film from George Miller hits theaters on May 24.