Dune 2 co-writer explains one major change to Anya Taylor-Joy’s character

Alia Atreides is different in the movie compared to the book

Anya Taylor-Joy at the Dune 2 premiere

Dune: Part Two co-writer Jon Spaihts has revealed why the movie makes a big change to Anya Taylor-Joy’s character Alia Atreides, compared to Frank Herbert’s novel.

Alia is Paul’s sister and, in the source material, is present in the story as a toddler who can talk fluently – she’s seen like this in David Lynch’s Dune movie. But, in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune 2, Alia is a fetus who speaks to her mother Jessica. In one of Paul’s visions, she appears as an adult, played by Taylor-Joy.

“We were a little leery of that talking toddler, as a distraction in the middle of the film,” Spaihts told Inverse. “That’s a difficult thing to execute on film.”

Alia’s birth would also necessitate the novel’s two year time skip, which the filmmakers had already decided against. “To allow such a long time lapse inevitably would sort of cool the passions of Part One,” Spaihts added. “If Duke Leto’s death were years and years ago, then it would lessen the lingering trauma that all the characters were feeling. We wanted the heat of their passion to be fresh and their wounds to be fresh.”

The change also made Jessica’s role in the story more intense. “It left Jessica talking to a kind of phantom inside her and walking through the Fremen world in an apparent madness, talking to someone who wasn’t there,” he said. “And we loved the drama of that.”

Dune: Part Two is in theaters now. For even more on the film, check out our deep dives below:

Related Posts

Elon Musk Unveils the 2025 Tesla Cybertruck – A Design Revolution That Will Change Everything! 

The future is here, and Elon Musk just made sure we know it. In a jaw-dropping reveal, the Tesla CEO has finally unveiled the all-new design for the 2025 Cybertruck,…

Elon Musk Brings His DOGE A.I. Avatar to Life – And the Internet Is Losing It! 

Elon Musk has done it again. Just when we thought he couldn’t surprise us anymore, the billionaire tech mogul has taken his love for Dogecoin (DOGE) to an…

Another Marvel Disaster? ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ Rumored to Be Reworked AGAIN After Internal Backlash

At this point, it seems Marvel will need a legitimate miracle if they want Sam Wilson’s upcoming solo flight to do more than crash land, as a…

Megan Rapinoe Loses $100M Deal After Feud With Elon Musk – Now She’s Threatening to Leave the U.S.! 

In a shocking turn of events, soccer icon Megan Rapinoe has lost a staggering $100 million sponsorship deal after a fiery public spat with tech billionaire Elon Musk. But that’s not…

Elon Musk’s $20 Billion Megatunnel: NYC to London in Just 54 Minutes? 

Elon Musk has never been one to think small, but his latest proposal is truly mind-blowing. The billionaire tech mogul has unveiled a $20 billion plan to build a revolutionary…

Elon Musk Declares War on ‘The View’ – Launches Public Campaign to Shut It Down for Good!

Elon Musk Declares War on ‘The View’ – Launches Public Campaign to Shut It Down for Good! 🚨🔥 Elon Musk is never afraid to shake things up, but this…