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Sci-fi rarely has funny characters because of the serious nature of its plots. But trying something different can really pay off.Duneis a classic in the genre, but Denis Villeneuve decided to give one of the characters a fresh twist inDune 2.
The result turned out to be a big hit, with memes flooding social media for a long time. For fans of the classic, there’s no doubt that the director stayed true to the original work, striving to be as faithful as possible. However, since adaptations often require tweaks, this has become an interesting point of curiosity. Now it’s clear that it wasn’t just a coincidence.
Why Is Javier Bardem So Funny InDune: Part 2?
Dune: Part 2was one of the biggest hits in movie history this year, scoring over 90% onRotten Tomatoes, and grossing over$7 billion worldwide. The film is also one of the most anticipated contenders in the race for the next edition of the Oscars.
But the fact is, compared to the 2021 first part and evenDavid Lynch‘s 1984 version,Dune: Part 2was the only one that really managed to connect with the general public. A lot of this success can be credited toDenis Villeneuve‘s vision in the script and direction, but one key factor was definitely the comic take on Stilgar, the leader of the main group of Fremen in the story.
The character played byJavier Bardemwas introduced in Villeneuve’s first film with a more serious and less endearing personality. However, in the sequel, this changed completely. His dialogues take on a more humorous tone, though still carefully balanced.
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The truth is that in a dense, dramatic narrative, incorporating comic relief can be crucial. But at first, everyone was wondering if this was intentional.
In a recent interview withThe New York Times, Villeneuve delved deeper into the film and was asked about Stilgar’s different tone. He revealed that part of the reason for this shift was due to the character’s motivations and emotional depth, which, whether one likes it or not, is quite strong.
Besides, he said he felt freer to do this because it features a made-up religion. The risk of causing issues, even if there were some strongcomparisonsto Islam, was pretty low or almost nonexistent.
I am very happy when you say that he is a tragic figure. For me, he is the most tragic figure of all. The idea to bring humoor to Stilgar was to make him lovable, to feel the humanity in that character. He’s not an austere figure, he has a big heart. But his beliefs, his faith, his reactions bring humor — and that is something I love about making a sci-fi film, because I can talk about that without offending people because it’s a fake religion. I designed all the prayers myself, so I know it’s fake. I find Stilgar very funny. And when people laugh, I’m happy because that was the intention.
Incorporating comedy into the character at this stage is essentially about giving him the balance he was missing. It’s likely that Stilgar will continue to express his fervent faith, without losing touch with his humanity.
Stilgar’s Success InDune: Part 2
The result of Villeneuve’s willingness to experiment with his interpretation of the characters was so positive that the public took to the internet, discussing Stilgar and Bardem almost exclusively when talking about the film.
The comments led to many months of jokes, and today it’s almost impossible not to associateDunewith the character. He ended up stealing the show and becoming many people’s favorite:
Stilgar: *struggling to open the pickle jarPaul: *opens with easeStilgar: LISAN AL GAIB IS HERE#DunePart2pic.twitter.com/DAyvCUJ6HN
im watching dune part 2 in 1080p and stilgar’s lisan al gaib here still took me by surprise 😭😭😭pic.twitter.com/td61AY0yc6
The audience reaction during the moment in Dune 2 when Paul was like “She’s right. I’m not the messiah. I’m not here to lead” and Stilgar was like “He’s too humble to say he is. As it is written"pic.twitter.com/5OYMGtanIS
Javier Bardem constantly shouting “Lisan al Gaib” so quickly anytime Timmy did anything cracked me tf up. I swear, he could blow his nose and he’d be like, “as it was written.” Stilgar is the greatest hypeman in history.#Dune2pic.twitter.com/i7C8a4Wcdd
Paul Atreides: Opens his eyesStilgar: That is exactly how Lisan Al Gaib would open his eyes, as written.#Dune2pic.twitter.com/Lw2gj50Uq8
The legendary “Lisan Al-Gaib” meme emerged from the countless times the character uses it to refer to the protagonist. However, while it symbolizes what made Stilgar so successful with the public, it also has a somewhat negative connotation.
Villeneuve has stated that Stilgar is the most tragic character in the plot, largely due to his beliefs and how central they are to his life. In other words, he is a devoted follower who spends the entire story pursuing Paul Atreides, the great messiah.
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The same religious fervor that used to be funny has turned out to be much more sinister. Viewed from another angle, the humor actually heightens the danger of what Stilgar represents. It will be interesting to see if this aspect is explored further in the potentialthird filmin the saga.
Will Stilgar still be funny, or could his character evolve in a darker direction? According to the book, there are no concerns, but since Villeneuve made somechangesto adapt the story for the screen, anything’s possible.
DuneandDune: Part 2are available to stream on Max.
Catherine Delgado
Articles Published :141
A geek enthusiast of fantasy and sci-fi, Catherine is also a screenwriter, completely obsessed with pop culture. Graduated in Audiovisual Production, she creates characters and writes about fictional universes when not writing articles, binge-watching shows, or reading sagas.
