She married the emperor, now she wants the closet to match.
Florence Pugh is officially returning as Princess Irulan in Dune: Messiah, and while the sequel is still deep in the pre-shoot haze of speculation and studio silence, Pugh has made one thing clear: she's ready to serve looks. “I hope we see more of her. I want more cool outfits,” she told Harper's Bazaar—a quote that's half joke, half royal decree.
It's not just red carpet energy. It's a signal. One that points to a larger shift in how these high-art, high-concept epics are embracing character design as narrative. In Dune: Part Two, Irulan was a political pawn in gold brocade. In Messiah, she's poised to become something more—and that includes stepping into the full visual weight of her role.
Denis Villeneuve's reluctant sequel is no longer a maybe—it's in motion.
After Dune: Part Two swept up praise like a sandworm devouring spice, Villeneuve admitted he couldn't ignore the demand. Despite earlier hedging about taking a break, by April 2024 Dune: Messiah was officially in development, with filming reportedly beginning this summer. And it's not just Pugh juggling projects—she's balancing MCU press and filming duties while diving back into the sand-strewn politics of Arrakis.
But let's not kid ourselves—Irulan is finally getting her moment.
In Herbert's Dune: Messiah, Irulan's role explodes from footnote to power player. She's no longer just the elegant accessory to Paul Atreides' political chessboard—she's in the game, scheming, observing, shaping fate. For fans who felt Florence Pugh was underused in Part Two, this is the payoff. And yes, it better come with some Oscar-worthy robes.
Compare it to another iconic slow-burn sci-fi franchise: The Hunger Games. Remember how Effie Trinket's Capitol couture evolved to reflect the revolution? Irulan's fashion could echo her transformation—from imperial daughter to uneasy queen to something far more subversive. Pugh's plea for “more cool outfits” isn't just vanity—it's vision.
Hollywood hears her, even if Warner Bros. stays quiet.
CinemaCon came and went without a whisper of Messiah—a bold (read: baffling) move considering buzz is peaking. Meanwhile, casting rumors continue to swirl like a spice storm: Robert Pattinson possibly as Scytale, Jason Momoa teasing his return, and Hans Zimmer apparently composing music before the script even had a studio stamp.
The silence? It's textbook Warner Bros. strategic vagueness—keep the mystery, feed the hype. But here's the thing: Dune: Messiah isn't just riding a wave, it's steering it. And Pugh's Princess is steering her own.
So yeah, Florence Pugh wants a bigger wardrobe. But let's not pretend this is about fabrics and frills. It's about agency, presence, and character growth in a universe that's often more obsessed with prophecy than people. If Dune: Messiah delivers the screen time—and the style—it could elevate Irulan from ornamental to unforgettable.
Would you crown her the new power player of Dune? Or is it all just smoke and spice? Drop your take in the comments—no whining about spoilers. The book's been out since '69.
