And believe it or not, he has some real-life influences.
And in the latestDune: Part Twotrailer, Feyd-Rautha feels like a manifestation of death itself.
In fact, Feyd-Rautha is a bit like Paul Arterides dark doppelganger.
Butlers Feyd-Rautha looks positively feral in monochrome while battling enemies in a gladiatorial arena.
To commemorate the occasion, he is festively killing his 100th gladiatorial opponent.
Of course, the rich only play games with the poor if the dice is loaded.
On his birthday, however, he decided he wants to give the crowd a better show.
At which point, hell become easy pickings for either the poisonous dagger or the clean one.
Given Herbert publishedDunedecades beforeGladiator, some might be tempted to say Scott borrowed from the literary sci-fi classic.
The so-called philosopher emperor just couldnt see that his son was a callow sadistic sort.
He left the empire to Commodus, who among his other vanities fancied himself a great gladiator.
Like the Phoenix character, he would fight in the arena, but not just once.
Conversely, killing the emperor would mean certain and grueling death.
He even planned to have his title in the year 193 be amended to Consul and Gladiator of Rome.
Dune: Part Twois in theaters on March 1, 2024.
