Alia's Changed Dune 2 Role Is Already A Problem For Messiah

Summary Anya Taylor-Joy's age may complicate her role as Alia in Dune: Messiah, as the character is meant to be a teenager.

Alia's appearance in Dune: Part Two hints at a possible Messiah film, where Anya Taylor-Joy's casting signifies major changes.

The age gap between Alia and other characters in Dune Messiah poses challenges that may require creative solutions in the film.

Anya Taylor-Joy playing Alia in Dune: Part Two creates a problem for a possible Dune Messiah movie. Taylor-Joy made an unexpected appearance for only a few seconds in Dune: Part Two as Paul Atreides' sister, Alia. Taylor-Joy joining the cast of Dune is an exciting prospect, as Alia is a big character in the Dune Messiah book.

Alia's being in the Dune: Part Two film also makes a strong case for a Messiah film to actually happen, while confirming the casting of Anya Taylor-Joy in this role. However, the particular casting of Taylor-Joy is a change from the Dune books. Alia is a teenager for most of the book, while Taylor-Joy is already much older.

Related How should Dune: Messiah handle Anya Taylor-Joy's Alia Atreides? Having Dune: Messiah release in 2026 raises questions about Anya Taylor-Joy's role as Alia Atreides, as she's meant to be a main character in the sequel. In order to make the ages line up, it seems like they'll have to suggest that her character was born as an adult or has aged rapidly. If they increase the number of in-universe years between films, Paul and Chani would look too young, and it seems doubtful that they'd re-cast Alia with a younger actress.

Anya Taylor-Joy Is Too Old For Dune Messiah

Alia Is Only A Teenager In The Dune Messiah Book

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Alia is Lady Jessica's daughter and Paul's sister, making her part of the Atreides' family tree. The book Dune Messiah takes place 12 years after the events of Dune: Part Two, and Alia is meant to be 16 years old by then. Anya Taylor-Joy was 27 when Dune: Part Two was released, meaning she'll be even older by the time Messiah comes around. Alia was never born in Dune: Part Two and only appeared in Paul's vision. If a Messiah film follows a similar time jump to the book, Alia would be 12 in the Messiah film.

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It will be interesting to see how a Messiah movie will get around these age discrepancies. In the book, Alia is born with the power of a Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother. Alia could use her power to age herself more rapidly. Another way Messiah could resolve the age issue is by setting the story even further into the future than the book did. Alia also has an important relationship with Duncan in the book, and a smaller age gap between the two characters could actually be a welcome improvement. It is unclear if Jason Momoa will return as Duncan.

Alia's Dune 2 Role Means Messiah Will (Almost) Definitely Happen

Alia Plays A Big Part In Dune Messiah

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Alia's reveal in Dune: Part Two means Messiah is very probable to happen. Taylor-Joy has a longstanding career of predominantly playing the lead in movies and TV shows, including Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, The Menu, and The Queen's Gambit. Because of this, it seems unlikely that Taylor-Joy would have accepted a role of only a couple of seconds screentime without any promise to become a bigger part of the Dune franchise later. Similarly, Florence Pugh was promised a larger role in potential future Dune installments when taking on the role of Princess Irulan in Dune: Part Two (via RadioTimes).

Anya Taylor-Joy was not credited for Dune: Part Two in order to keep her role in the film a secret until its release.

Revealing Alia at all in Dune: Part Two may show that director Denis Villeneuve has every intention of making a Messiah film. Lady Jessica being pregnant and speaking to her unborn daughter was a big focus of her character progression in Dune: Part Two. The film could have easily chosen to keep Alia hidden from the audience and not cast anyone in this role.

Anya Taylor-Joy's casting does show there will be some changes to the structure and story of Dune Messiah. Dune: Part Two was a box office success and also included some important book changes. Despite the changes, the film was still hugely popular. With Anya Taylor-Joy's acting talent and director Denis Villeneuve's vision for the franchise, Dune Messiah is set to be another incredible body of work.

Source: RadioTimes