Actor Florence Pugh is set to reprise her role as Princess Irulan inDune: Part Three. The third movie in director Denis Villeneuve’sDunefranchise,2026’sDune: Part Threewill follow Paul Atreides as he faces off against a conspiracy that threatens his Empire years after he became ruler of the Known Universe inDune: Part Two. Though she has had a relatively minor role in the first twoDunefilms so far,Irulan will play a bigger part inDune: Part Three.
Dune: Part Threewill adapt the story of author Frank Herbert’s book,Dune: Messiah, which has already shown what audiences can expect to see from Irulan’s character in the third film. SinceDune: Part Twohad a very different ending than the book it’s based on, there will likely be some changes to Irulan’s character in the third film as well. However, that won’t stop Irulan from having a significant part inDune: Part Threeas a conflicted but cunning antagonist.
5Irulan Fails To Have A Child With Paul
Irulan Can’t Preserve House Corrino’s Royal Bloodline
In both the book and the movie, Irulan weds Paul so he can claim the Golden Lion Throne in exchange for her father’s life. However, she did so thinking Paul would preserve her family’s bloodline by having a child with her. The Bene Gesserit even tasks Irulan with having a child with Paul to preserve the Atreides and Corrino bloodlines inDune Messiah.
Since Paul was clearly more interested in Chani, who was Paul’s concubine in Dune Messiah, Irulan was unable to have a child with him. Though Chani disappears at the end ofDune: Part Two,Paul’s eternal love for her doesn’t change, meaning his relationship with Irulan won’t change either.
4Irulan Conspires To Overthrow Paul
Irulan Will Act As A Villain In Dune: Part Three
InDune Messiah, Irulan supports the plot to usurp Paul’s control over the Known Universe, having realized that he has no intention of having a child with her. However, the way she supports this insurgency will likely differ in the film. Chani became Paul’s concubine after the firstDunebook, so while they were still together inDune Messiah, Irulan secretly gave Chani contraceptives to prevent her from having a child with Paul. Since Chani ended her relationship with Paul and ran off into the desert inDune: Part Two, Irulan will likely try to sabotage Paul in some other way inDune: Part Three.
3Irulan Searches For Chani
Irulan May Seek Out Another Threat To Her Family’s Future
Although Chani turned her back on Paul inDune: Part Two, Paul had a romantic relationship with Chani earlier in the film. The latter could have already been pregnant with Paul’s children by the time the credits rolled. Since Irulan may try to maintain her family’s royal bloodline as in the book, she may try to locate Chani and any children she may have.
Chani may not be with Paul anymore, but her having the children of Emperor Paul Atreides would threaten the Corrino family’s chances of inheriting the Golden Lion Throne.Dune Messiahdid have Chani try to kill Irulan for jeopardizing her pregnancy, so it seems these two characters could fight it out on the big screen as well.
2Irulan Defects From The Bene Gesserit
Irulan May Switch Sides In Dune: Part Three
While Irulan is a member ofDune’s Corrupt House Corrinoand the Bene Gesserit,Dune: Part Twoshowed she was conflicted about where her allegiance lies. She was disillusioned with her father after her father and the Harkonnens attacked House Atreides. She also criticized the Reverend Mother Mohiam for trying to eradicate the Atreides bloodline. ThoughDune Messiahsaw her working with the Bene Gesserit to overthrow Paul, she turns against them, fed up with being manipulated.Dune: Part Twoalready sowed the seeds of her defection, and the sequel will likely see them come to fruition.
1Irulan Will Help Raise Paul And Chani’s Children
Irulan Will Ensure House Atreides Lives On
After defecting from the Bene Gesserit inDune Messiah, Irulan swears loyalty to House Atreides out of grief for Paul, who gives up control of his Empire to his sister Alia and wanders off into the desert. She even vows to help raise Paul and Chani’s twins, Leto and Ghanima, as their teacher.
Though Irulan conspired against Paul and his family in the book, Alia spared her from execution, knowing that she could be trusted. Since it seems Irulan will turn against the Bene Gesserit inDune: Part Three, chances are that she will follow the source material and care for Paul and Chani’s children, which should help pave the way for afourthDunefilm.
