The cast for Dune Messiah is turning out to be just as star-studded as the first two Denis Villeneuve Dune films. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Robert Pattinson is all but confirmed to play Scytale in the third Dune movie, which would make him the primary villain of the story. And if Pattinson is taking on this role, he could make a slightly frustrating Dune character into something much more interesting.
Dune Messiah is the second Dune book written by Frank Herbert, and it takes place 12 years after the events of Dune. Paul is ruling the galaxy, and everyone is trying to murder him. In fact, a massive conspiracy to get Paul off of the throne is what makes up the majority of the story of Dune Messiah. Less than half as long as the first novel, Dune Messiah is almost an extended coda for the first book; ending the primary story of Paul and Chani and setting up the heirs of Arrakis for a lot of trouble in the third book, Children of Dune.
