The 2021 Dune features numerous actors from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The MCU has been making excellent use of the skills of countless performers for more than a decade, so it is no surprise that Denis Villeneuve chose to tap into that well of talent for his film. Frank Herbert's epic tale has long been considered a science-fiction classic, and the huge cast of Villeneuve's movie is jam-packed with actors known for their MCU roles.
Since the MCU began in 2008, dozens of films have been released, along with multiple television shows. As a result, the list of actors who have appeared in the MCU is quite long. It should be of no surprise then that Villeneuve's Dune relies on the talents of many Marvel alumni. The director has also cast several other MCU favorites in his other films, including Jeremy Renner in Arrival and Jake Gyllenhaal in both Enemy and Prisoners, so the possibility remains that they may be cast in future Dune installments.
With the announcement that HBO intends to make Dune: The Sisterhood, a prequel series to the Dune movies, as well as the green-light for the sequel Dune 2, it appears that Warner Brothers might be hoping for their own Dune science-fiction franchise based on Herbert's worlds. Given this, it is likely that we'll see other names join this list in the future. For now, here is every MCU actor that appeared in Dune.
Zendaya has starred as Peter Parker's love interest, Michelle Jones-Watson (MJ) in all three of Marvel's Spider-Man installments. She most recently appeared in the MCU in Spider-Man: No Way Home. In Dune, the talented actress plays the mysterious Chani, a young woman who haunts Paul's visions. Fans of the Herbert book series will know that Chani becomes a very important person in Paul's life, and viewers can expect to see much more Zendaya in the second film, as Villeneuve teased a larger role for Chani in Dune 2. And while the future of Spider-Man isn't yet set, it's possible that fans will see MJ return to the MCU, as well.
Josh Brolin spent the last seven years playing Thanos, the Mad Titan who destroyed half the life in the MCU, beginning with an appearance in the Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014 . He then appeared in the post-credits scene of Avengers: Age of Ultron, Infinity War, and Endgame. He also provided the voice of Thanos in What If...? It was a change of pace for viewers to see the veteran actor playing the loyal weaponsmaster to House Atreides, Gurney Halleck, in Dune. Though the MCU has moved beyond Thanos, it's uncertain whether Gurney will return for Dune 2, Brolin is currently filming a comedy, Brothers, with fellow MCU alumni, Peter Dinklage.
Stellan Skarsgård first appeared in the MCU in 2011's Thor as Dr. Erik Selvig, a mentor to Thor's soon-to-be replacement, Jane Foster. He was manipulated by Loki's magic, suffered professional and personal trauma, and eventually helped the Avengers defeat the Asgardian trickster. The actor appeared in a total of four MCU films, the last being Age of Ultron. In Dune, Skarsgård got the real sci-fi treatment with heavy prosthetics and makeup to play the villainous Baron Harkonnen. No further announcements have been made about the actor returning to the MCU although the potential remains. Skarsgård will appear in the Disney+ show Andor before returning to Arakis for Dune 2 in 2023.
Marvel fans will recognize the 6' 6" tall Dave Bautista as Drax, an often obtuse member of the Guardians of the Galaxy. And although Drax is a hero, Bautista is no stranger to playing a villain after spending much of the past 20 years as a heel in the WWE. This energy helped to make his character, Glossu Rabban Harkonnen a threat in Dune. He will return to playing Drax for two upcoming MCU films, Thor: Love and Thunder and Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3, though he has said that he will not return following the 2023 release. It is rumored that he also been cast as The Kurgan in a reboot of The Highlander, as well as returning as The Beast Rabban, hopefully in an expanded role, for Dune 2.
Ant-Man fans will remember David Dastmalchian for his portrayal of superstitious ex-con and business partner to Scott Lang in the MCU. In Dune, Dastmalchian played mentat Piter De Vries, who serves the Baron Harkonnen through his highly trained mind and mental abilities. It is unclear whether Dastmalchian will return to the MCU in future films, and is unlikely that he'll return to the world of Dune. However, given his history of making movies with Villeneuve (Prisoners, Blade Runner 2049, and Dune), viewers will have to wait and see.
It's not entirely clear whether all of the Netflix Marvel shows are part of the MCU, but with the introduction of Daredevil characters into the MCU, it can't hurt to include Nigerian born Olusanmokun, who appeared in the 2017 series, The Defenders. In the series, Olusanmokun played Sowande, one of the five fingers of the infamous Hand. In Dune, he played Jamis, a Fremen warrior who challenges Lady Jessica and is eventually killed by Paul. While Olusanmokun's return to either universe is unlikely, he has been cast in another science fiction classic as Dr. M'Benga in the forthcoming Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Moon Knight will mark Oscar Isaac's first appearance in the MCU, with his future in the grander scheme wide open. In the Disney+ show, set to premiere in 2022, Isaac will play Marc Spector, a former mercenary with dissociative identity disorder who becomes involved in a war between the gods. In Dune, Isaac played Duke Leto Atreides, father to Paul and patriarch of House Atreides. Unfortunately, given that his character died via self-administered poison when he was captured by the Harkonnens, it is doubtful that he will return for future installments of Villeneuve's epic. However, with his recent addition to the MCU, it is reasonable to assume that Marc Spector will appear in more than just the Disney+ show.
