Following news that Florence Pugh may be boarding Denis Villeneuve’s science-fiction sequel, Dune: Part II, Deadline reports that Austin Butler is in talks to become the latest casting addition to an already packed line-up.

Austin Butler is due for a big-screen breakout role this year with the release of Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic, in which he plays the King of Rock and Roll himself. The actor previously appeared in supporting roles in Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood and The Dead Don’t Die. 

Should the deal be made, Butler would star as villain Feyd-Rautha, the cunning nephew of the Baron of House Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård). It is one of three major roles being cast right now, alongside the role of Emperor Shaddam IV – the ruler who sent the Atreides family to Arrakis in Dune – and his daughter, Princess Irulan. Pugh is in talks for the latter; the role of the Emperor is presumably still being cast. If all goes to plan, shooting is slated to begin this summer.

Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya and Josh Brolin are all reprising their roles from Dune. Villeneuve’s sequel will pick up where the first film left off, with Paul Atreides (Chalamet) fighting alongside the native Fremen to rid the desert planet of Arrakis from the Harkonnens’ brutal rule.

Warner Bros. has set Dune: Part II for release on October 20th, 2023.