Who does Christopher Walken play in Dune: Part Two? Emperor Shaddam IV explained
Christopher Walken takes on a powerful role in Dune: Part Two.
There is a whole new roster of characters introduced in Dune: Part Two.
The epic sci-fi sequel from director Denis Villeneuve adapts the latter parts of the novel by Frank Herbert and follows Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and his pregnant mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) as they are now fugitives fleeing House Harkonnen on the planet Arrakis.
A starry list of newcomers has joined the franchise, including Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Léa Seydoux, and Souheila Yacoub.
However, the biggest name to join the ensemble cast has to be Hollywood royalty Christopher Walken.
Here is everything you need to know about screen legend Christopher Walken and his role in Dune: Part Two.
Who does Christopher Walken play in Dune: Part 2?
Christopher Walken portrays Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV Corrino in Dune: Part Two.
Shaddam IV is the ruler of the Known Universe and is the latest of the Padishah Emperors from House Corrino, which originated on the planet Salusa Secundus.
Off-screen in Dune: Part One, the Emperor conspired with House Harkonnen to trap House Atreides into taking up the stewardship of Arrakis only to annihilate them with his army, the Sardakaur.
The Emperor resides on the planet Kaitan and boasts the greatest control of the Great Houses of the Landsraad and the most shares in the gigantic monopoly encompassing all forms of commerce across the Imperium, known as CHOAM.
Shaddam is the father of five daughters, the eldest being Princess Irulan Corrino (Florence Pugh) but the Bene Gesserit prevented him from having a son.
The closest advisors of the Emperor in the film are Irulan and her Bene Gesserit tutor and truthsayer, Reverend Gaius Helen Mohiam (Charlotte Rampling).
In the novel, Shaddam is also close to his cousin, Count Hasimir Fenring and his Bene Gesserit wife Lady Margot, the latter of whom is played by Léa Seydoux in the film.
Which Dune novels does Emperor Shaddam IV appear in?
Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV Corrino only appears in Dune out of Frank Herbert's original series but his present-day actions are mentioned in its sequel Dune Messiah.
Outside of these books, in the expanded series by Herbert's son Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, Shaddam has had an expanded role.
The character appeared in the Prelude to Dune trilogy which revealed his ascent to power ahead of the events of Dune.
This continued with The Caladan Trilogy which focuses primarily on House Atreides along with the Heroes of Dune sequel novels Paul of Dune and Winds of Dune.
- Read More: How to read all the Dune books in order
Who else has Christopher Walken been in?
What hasn't Christopher Walken been in?
The New York City native is a star of stage and screen, having earned himself an Academy Award, a BAFTA, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Walken has starred in the likes of The Anderson Tapes (1971), Next Stop, Greenwich Village (1976), Roseland (1977), Annie Hall (1977), and an Oscar-winning turn in The Deer Hunter in 1978.
Other major releases for the actor include The Dogs of War (1980), Brainstorm (1983), The Dead Zone (1983), A View to a Kill (1985), At Close Range (1986), Biloxi Blues (1988), King of New York (1990), The Comfort of Strangers (1990), Batman Returns (1992), True Romance (1993), Pulp Fiction (1994), The Prophecy (1995, and its two sequels), Suicide Kings (1997), Antz (1998) Sleepy Hollow (1999), Man on Fire (2004), Wedding Crashers (2005), Hairspray (2007), Seven Psychopaths (2012), A Late Quartet (2012), The Jungle Book (2016), Percy (2020), and, now, Dune: Part Two (2024).
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Read more:
- Dune: Part Two review – A spectacular return to Arrakis
- Who is Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in Dune: Part Two? Austin Butler character explained
- Who is Alia Atreides in Dune: Part Two? Anya Taylor-Joy character explained
- What happened in Dune: Part One? Recap for the first Denis Villeneuve film in franchise
- How is Dune: Part Two different from the book? Book changes explained
- Which characters are missing in Dune: Part Two?
- Stellan Skarsgård says reading Dune was “useless” for his Baron Harkonnen portrayal
- Dune director on casting Austin Butler: ‘I needed a playboy – a rockstar’
- What is the age rating for Dune: Part Two? Age suitability explained
- How to watch Dune: Part One on DVD, Blu-ray and streaming
Dune: Part Two is showing in cinemas now. Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight.
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Authors
Lewis Knight is the Trends Editor for Radio Times, covering trending titles from TV, Film and more. He previously worked at The Mirror in TV, Film, and Showbiz coverage alongside work on SEO. Alongside his past work in advertising, he possesses a BSc in Psychology and an MA in Film Studies.
