Robert Pattinson fine playing villain in latest Dune film

Robert Pattinson usually gets the hero roles. The Batman, the Twilight Saga, and more recently, Mickey 17, showcased his acting prowess in playing the good guy.  

 At the Los Angeles premiere of A24’s The Drama, the British actor shared behind-the-scenes details about his latest project, including his role in Dune: Part Three, where he plays the villain.

In an interview with Variety, Pattinson, 39, said, “It looks very cool. The latex, the full prosthetic head. My eyebrows are gone, and I’m just sweating here. I was in the desert in UAE, and you can’t sweat because it ruins the makeup.

“But it was so cool. It was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve [ever] had,” he added. The first teaser trailer for Dune: Part Three was released the same day, offering audiences an early look at Pattinson’s icy-blonde transformation as Scytale and the film’s visual style. 

Returning cast members in the upcoming film are Timothée Chalamet (Paul Atreides), Zendaya (Chani), Florence Pugh (Princess Irulan), Rebecca Ferguson (Lady Jessica), and Anya Taylor-Joy (Alia Atreides). American actor and film producer Jason Momoa is also confirmed to return as Duncan Idaho.

New cast members include César Award-winning actor Isaach De Bankolé as Farok, a Fremen warrior. During an interview with Deadline Hollywood, Pattinson reflected on working with American actress and singer Zendaya, who co-stars with him The Drama, The Odyssey, and Dune: Part Three. 

“She’s the same no matter what the scale is,” he said. “She’s incredible, a hard worker and she’s so lovely to everyone, and so talented. She's just really, really wonderful." He added that it would be hard to find anyone who could say a bad word about the actress.

Pattinson stars in three films this year: The Drama, The Odyssey, and Dune: Part Three. Next year, he will return in The Batman: Part II.

Dune: Part Three from Warner Bros. Pictures is slated for theatrical release on December 18, 2026.