Robert Pattinson Will Play Two Very Different Villains in ‘The Odyssey’ and ‘Dune: Part Three’

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2026 looks set to be a massive year for movie theaters, with several films expected to earn over a billion dollars. Titles like Dune: Part Three, The Odyssey, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Avengers: Doomsday are strong contenders to reach that milestone, and that’s before even considering animated sequels like Toy Story 5, which are almost guaranteed to succeed. Many of Hollywood’s biggest stars will be in multiple blockbusters, including Robert Pattinson, who has a central role in two of the most hyped films.

Robert Pattinson started his career with memorable roles as Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Edward Cullen in the Twilight saga, but he’s since become one of Hollywood’s most admired actors. He’s known for his versatility, captivating audiences with diverse characters like a troubled lighthouse keeper in The Lighthouse, a corrupt preacher in The Devil All the Time, and even Batman. Pattinson is poised to make a significant impact on cinema again in 2026 with upcoming roles in Dune: Part Three and The Odyssey.

Robert Pattinson Is Playing the Key Villain in ‘Dune: Part Three’ and ‘The Odyssey’

Robert Pattinson, known for playing Batman in Matt Reeves’ darker take on the character, will surprisingly play the main villain in both Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. His transformation into the shape-shifting Scytale in the Dune: Part Three trailer generated a lot of buzz. While it’s unclear exactly how closely his character follows the Dune Messiah novel, Scytale is a key figure in the plot to overthrow Paul Atreides. Unlike Austin Butler’s aggressive and brutal Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in Dune: Part Two, Scytale is portrayed as a more subtle and strategic schemer.

Okay, so I’m really excited about this new take on The Odyssey. Apparently, Robert Pattinson is playing Antinous, and from what I understand, he’s going to be a real villain. He’s the leader of all those guys trying to marry Penelope while Odysseus is away, and he’s not just casually courting her – the original story paints him as this truly awful, greedy guy who wants to wipe out Odysseus’s whole family and take over the kingdom. It sounds like even though Matt Damon’s Odysseus will have a lot on his plate getting home, Antinous is going to be the main bad guy he has to deal with.

Pattinson’s 2026 Will See Him Flex His Range as an Actor

Robert Pattinson’s recent roles are strikingly different in appearance and what drives his characters. In Dune: Part Three, his character Scytale is usually seen as a pale warrior with white hair, but as a ‘Face Dancer,’ he can completely change how he looks. In contrast, he’ll play Antinous as a traditionally handsome and rich man from Ithaca. Though both characters aim to take down a leader, their reasons differ: Scytale uses trickery to overthrow a ruler he sees as dangerous, while Antinous is motivated by a desire for power and Odysseus’s wife.

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With Robert Pattinson also playing a groom in the upcoming A24 film The Drama, 2026 promises to be a year that really highlights his acting abilities. He’s already considered one of the best actors working today, so there’s a lot of anticipation for everything he does. But his role as Syctale in Dune: Part Three is particularly exciting, especially considering the huge popularity of the Dune series and the villainous nature of the character.

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2026-03-22 20:18