Jason Momoa Is The Latest Addition to Denis Villeneuve's "Dune"

If you’re a working actor and haven’t yet been cast in Denis Villeneuve‘s “Dune,” maybe you need a new agent? Just a day after Josh Brolin was added to the cast, Jason Momoa is now in negotiations for the adaptation of Frank Herbert‘s sci-fi classic. Momoa would be playing Duncan Idaho, a loyal friend to Oscar Isaac‘s Leo Atreides. Idaho is known as a deft swordsman, which would make good use of all the experience Momoa has wielding weapons from work on “Aquaman” and “Game of Thrones.” The guy knows how to handle a trident; how hard can a sword be?

READ MORE: ‘Dune’ Adds Josh Brolin To Denis Villeneuve’s Already Stacked Cast

If none of those character names mean anything to you, you need nerdier friends. The TLDR version (distilled from the massive novel) is that “Dune” follows the House of Atreides, led by Duke Leo, in the struggle for power on the planet of Arrakis, which is rich in the resource of a drug called “melange” (a.k.a. “spice”). Timothée Chalamet will play Leo’s son Paul,  and the rest of the cast currently includes Javier Bardem, Rebecca Ferguson, Dave Bautista, ZendayaCharlotte Rampling and Stellan Skarsgard.

READ MORE: Javier Bardem In Talks To Lead The Fremen In Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune’

Momoa, who somehow managed to make even a cannibal charming in “The Bad Batch, is perhaps better known for his recent role as the hero of “Aquaman,” the DC Universe’s biggest hit ever with over $1 billion worldwide. Though it did pretty well stateside, “Aquaman” ruled in China, where it’s the fourth largest moneymaker ever at the country’s box office. This casting could help “Dune” have larger legs outside of the U.S. Villeneuve’s last film, the acclaimed–and expensive–”Blade Runner 2049didn’t make its money back during its theatrical run, though it did do well on Blu-ray.