Barry Keoghan ponders losing Feyd-Rautha role, following rumors of Irish star appearing in Denis Villeneuve operatic sci-fi sequel Dune: part 2 were put to bed by the casting of Elvis star Austin Butler. Keoghan has grown stronger in his acting career over the past decade, appearing in both rock-hard independent dramas and Quiet with horses and ’71 and mainstream blockbusters like the MCUs Eternals and DCs the batter. Most recently, Keoghan delivered a sobering performance as the lively, sharp-tongued and deeply abused Dominic Kearney in Martin McDonagh’s black comedy The Banshees of Inisherin.
After the critical and commercial success of Denis Villeneuve’s opening adaptation of Frank Herbert’s DuneIt was rumored that Keoghan would further penetrate the world of cinematic blockbusters with a role as the vicious and calculated Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen for the sequel in Dune: part 2. However, among a roster of stars including Harry Styles, Tye Sheridan and Butler who eventually went to the role, Keoghan has always faced stiff competition for entry into the conflict over Arrakis. Still, after his brief introduction as Matt Reeves’ incarnation of Joker in the batterKeoghan already has big shoes to take on a villainous role for years to come.
Speak with The New York Times, Keoghan reflects on his feelings about the rumors of his connection to Feyd-Rautha. While somewhat ambiguous as to why exactly the role didn’t come his way, the star certainly seems to love Herbert’s work and just accepts that some things don’t go the way you want as an actor. See exactly what Keoghan had to say about his briefing Dune experience below:
Ah, yes, I really enjoyed that process. Look, I’m a big fan of “Dune”, and it would have been nice to be a part of it. I am a big fan of Timothée [Chalamet, the star of the franchise] also. But it wasn’t for me. Sometimes you have to accept that. Sometimes it’s not for you.
Barry Keoghan would have been a formidable Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen
Obviously, being a fan of the material doesn’t always mean guaranteed success for an actor when considered for a new role, and Keoghan missing out on Feyd-Rautha immediately raises questions about how menacing an Austin Butler presence is likely to be. in the role. The Irishman, Keoghan, is synonymous with playing troubled and often volatile, chaotic and threatening characters, both in his larger and more niche roles. His mix of subtle creepiness and unpredictable intensity would certainly have helped form a hugely chilling antagonist to Timothée Chalamet’s Paul in Dune: part 2.
Butler will have to deliver a significant feat to match the expected levels of terror that Keoghan has proven to be able to produce. While the American star has also recently shown his adaptability, reach and dedication in the titular role of Elvis, there’s certainly no reason to believe that we haven’t just seen the beginnings of what Butler has to offer. Without a doubt, he didn’t shy away from performing alongside a superstar like Tom Hanks, and with that confidence in Dune: part 2, scenes between Butler and Chalamet could lead to exciting cinema. It’s a shame the public will never get to see what Keoghan’s version of Feyd-Rautha would have looked like. But with both Butler and Keoghan on the rise, these stars will continue to deliver powerful and nuanced performances for years to come.
Source: The New York Times
