What makes Gurney different than, say, Duncan Idaho in “Dune,” is that he is not just an extraordinary warrior, but also a poet and a scholar. It may sound like a small thing, but it hugely informs not just the character of Gurney, but the entirety of House Atreides. That’s because we learn Gurney was once enslaved by the Harkonnens, back when he was a man who knew only violence. Working for the Atreides family, however, he was allowed to cultivate an interest in music and literature, illustrating that the Atreides value art and human qualities, not just brute strength.
In the past, Brolin has admitted to being self-conscious about playing the Baliset due to his “Dune” co-star Oscar Isaac (who plays Duke Leto Atreides in the film) quickly mastering how to use the instrument himself. Though we, sadly, didn’t get to hear Isaac sing a song or play an instrument onscreen, we will get to see Gurney singing one of his famous songs in “Part Two,” much like the Patrick Stewart version of the character did in David Lynch’s 1984 “Dune” film. Now, if only Villeneuve would bring back the royal battle pug from that movie too…
“Dune: Part Two” is currently scheduled to open in theaters on March 15, 2024.