Warner Bros./Legendary

Anya Taylor-Joy Reveals the Story Behind Her DUNE: PART TWO Role

Originally posted on Nerdist | By Tai Gooden | Last updated 5/13/24

Dune: Part Two managed to keep a major secret from its fans. The second installment of director Denis Villeneuve’s expanding film franchise starred Anya Taylor-Joy in a role that was kept secret until the film literally came out. We then learned that Taylor-Joy portrayed Alia Atreides, Paul’s unborn younger sister. In today’s world, pulling off that kind of secret is certainly not easy, unless you’re Beyoncé. I shudder to think about what would happen if you broke that lady’s NDA. Anyway, Anya Taylor-Joy’s recent Variety interview revealed how they kept her Dune: Part Two cameo a secret.

The actress was actually filming Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and begged to be a part of the second Dune film. It seemed like she would miss her chance but, after wrapping up Furiosa, she discovered that Villeneuve made some special considerations so she could be a part of Dune.

“He wanted me to be part of the universe,” Anya Taylor-Joy affirmed. “We kept in touch. I just had this feeling that it wasn’t over… [Villeneuve] said, ‘I made a deal with the studio: If I was on budget and on time, I could do this.'” She did her scene with the director and a crew in Nambia and then they kept everyone under wraps, even from the studio.

“No one at the studio knew,” said Taylor-Joy. “My face had been blurred out [in early cuts of the film].”

Now that’s how you move in silence.

This article first appeared on Nerdist and was syndicated with permission.

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