‘Dune’s Villain Looked Ridiculous Behind-The-Scenes
Before it was a legally-bewildering crypto scheme, apparently Dune was also a movie that came out last year, chronicling an interplanetary battle over a powerful ancient spice – and if it wasn’t for the fact that Dune is based on a famous, decades-old novel, we probably would have suspected that it was secretly paid for by a certain aftershave company.
In both the book and the film, the villainous House Harkonnen is headed by Baron Harkonnen, who basically looks like The Kingpin if he were a Cenobite who routinely bathed in motor oil.
Don't Miss
The Baron was played by acclaimed actor and handsome leading man generator Stellan Skarsgard. Anyone who remembers Skarsgard’s nude exploits in Thor: The Dark World likely deduced that his “cyborg Penguin” physique in Dune wasn’t exactly natural. No, Skarsgard’s Dune bod was the result of an intense prosthetic get-up that apparently looked a tad less intimidating in real life. The Ken doll-esque void where there should be genitals, for instance …
It took a whopping seven hours of make-up work for Skarsgard to transform into Baron Harkonnen. Just think of all the time and money the filmmakers would have saved by simply casting a dude who already kind of looked like that.
Warner Bros.
Creating this character was never not a ridiculous ordeal, apparently; even back in 1984, during the making David Lynch’s Dune, they had to cover the actor playing Baron Harkonnen with fake zits and put him a mall Santa-esque bodysuit, then haul him around the stage on wires to simulate the Baron’s ability to float.
Universal Pictures
You know things must be pretty crazy when Sting proudly modeling a futuristic metal Speedo isn’t the most memorable image in the movie.
You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter!
Top Image: Warner Bros.
