That’s why these two stars were cut from “Dune 2” – and unfortunately, fans will never see the scenes

“Dune: Part Two” features a brilliant all-star cast including Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Austin Butler and Florence Pugh, but this list should have been a few more names longer. Tim Blake Nelson, the cinephile mainly from films by the Coen brothers such as “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” and “The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs”, as well as Stephen McKinley Henderson, who already appeared in the first part of “Dune”, signed up for the science fiction epic. Scenes were even shot with both actors, but ultimately did not make it into the final version of the science fiction epic.

Fans are speculating that Tim Blake Nelson has been hired to play Hasimir Fenring, the husband of Lady Margot Fenring (Léa Seydoux). who, as Mentat, a kind of human supercomputer, also acts as an advisor to Emperor Shaddam (Christopher Walken). Tim Blake Nelson commented on his absence from Dune: Part Two disappointed, though forgiving:

“I am not authorized to reveal what the scene was about. I leave that to Denis [Villeneuve]if he wants to talk about it. I had a great time during the shoot. And then I had to [Denis] cut the scene because he felt the film would be too long. My heart is broken, but I don’t blame him. I loved it and I can’t wait to do something else with him, which we definitely plan to do.”

Mentat Thufir Hawat fell victim to the cut

If Nelson were indeed cast as Fenring, the removal of the corresponding scene could be related to the decision to also remove Stephen McKinley Henderson’s character Thufir Hawat from the film. Finally, we met Thufir Hawat in “Dune” as a Mentat of the Atreides family, who is captured by Baron Vladimir (Stellan Skarsgard) during the Harkonnen raid. Opposite Denis Villeneuve explained the decision not to include his scenes in “Dune: Part Two”:

“One of the most painful decisions for me was [Thufir Hawat] not to show. I love this character, but I decided from the beginning to focus the adaptation on the Bene Gesserit. This has meant that the Mentats are not as present as they should be, but that is the nature of the adaptation.”

For example, Paul’s abilities as Mentat are largely omitted from Villeneuve’s adaptation, which are explored more deeply in Frank Herbert’s original novel. The film instead focuses more extensively on Paul’s training and skill in the customs of the Bene Gesserit.

There will be no director’s cut with the deleted scenes

Even before the release of “Dune: Part Two,” Denis Villeneuve explained , that he is not a fan of director’s cuts and that fans will therefore wait in vain for the deleted scenes from his films:

“I firmly believe that if something doesn’t end up in the film, it’s dead. Sometimes I cut out scenes and say, “I can’t believe I just cut this out.” I feel like a samurai opening his stomach. It’s painful, so I can’t go back and create some kind of Frankenstein and bring to life what is dead. It’s too painful. If it’s dead, it’s dead, and it’s dead for a reason. It’s painful, but that’s my job. The film is what remains. I’m very serious in the editing room. I don’t think about my ego, I think about the movie.”

Both Tim Blake Nelson and Stephen McKinley Henderson are mentioned in the “Special Thanks” section of the end credits of “Dune: Part Two.” You can see the sci-fi spectacle in your local cinema since February 29, 2024.