Editing List of Dune characters (section)

=== Paul Atreides ===
{{main|Paul Atreides}}
In ''[[Dune (novel)|Dune]]'', Paul is the son and heir of Duke [[#Leto I Atreides|Leto Atreides]] and [[Lady Jessica]], whose family is thrown into the dangerous political intrigues centered on the inhospitable [[desert planet]] [[Arrakis]], only known source of the oracular spice [[melange (fictional drug)|melange]], the most important and valuable substance in the universe. Paul has been trained by his father and several Atreides attendants in fighting and the art of war, and by his mother in some of her [[Bene Gesserit]] disciplines. Paul also possesses burgeoning [[prescient]] abilities, which are further unlocked by the inescapable exposure to melange on Arrakis. House Atreides is soon betrayed and scattered, with Leto killed, his forces devastated, and Paul and Jessica forced to flee into the open desert. They are taken in by the native [[Fremen]], a secretive population of fierce fighters who thrive despite the scarcity of water and presence of aggressive, giant [[sandworm (Dune)|sandworms]]. Paul rises to lead the planetwide Fremen forces against the Imperial stranglehold over Arrakis, ultimately seizing control of the planet and deposing [[Padishah Emperor]] [[Shaddam IV]]. In ''[[Dune Messiah]]'', Paul's empire is challenged by the conspiracies of various factions hoping to destroy him, while a jihad in his name rages across the universe. After he is blinded by a devastating weapon known as a [[stone burner]], Paul exiles himself into the desert, per Fremen custom. Paul returns under the guise of "The Preacher" in ''[[Children of Dune]],'' rallying against the Fremen religion and the jihad raging in his name. The Preacher is ultimately assassinated by one of Alia's guards after calling her a blasphemer. 

Paul is portrayed by [[Kyle MacLachlan]] in the 1984 film adaptation ''[[Dune (1984 film)|Dune]]'',<ref name="dune maslin"/> and by [[Alec Newman]] in the 2000 miniseries ''[[Frank Herbert's Dune]]''<ref name="NYT Stasio"/> and its 2003 sequel, ''[[Frank Herbert's Children of Dune]]''.<ref name="NYT Wertheimer">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/15/arts/television-review-a-stormy-family-on-a-sandy-planet.html |title=Television Review: A Stormy Family on a Sandy Planet |first=Ron |last=Wertheimer |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 15, 2003 |access-date=January 19, 2015 |archive-date=January 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119194500/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/15/arts/television-review-a-stormy-family-on-a-sandy-planet.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref> The character is played by [[Timothée Chalamet]] in the 2021 film ''[[Dune (2021 film)|Dune]]''<ref name="ew dune 2021">{{Cite magazine |last=Greenblatt |first=Leah |date=September 3, 2021 |title=''Dune'' review: Denis Villeneuve's Starry Sci-fi Epic Is Breathtaking, and a Little Bit Maddening |url=https://ew.com/movies/movie-reviews/dune-movie-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904100739/https://ew.com/movies/movie-reviews/dune-movie-review/ |archive-date=September 4, 2021 |access-date=September 25, 2021 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref> and its sequel, ''[[Dune: Part Two]]'' (2024).<ref name="rt dune two">{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/dune-part-2-cast-characters-actors/|title=''Dune: Part Two'' Cast: Full List of Actors and Characters in Sequel|website=[[Radio Times]]|first=Lewis|last=Knight|date=July 13, 2023|access-date=August 3, 2023|archive-date=August 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803231511/https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/dune-part-2-cast-characters-actors/|url-status=live}}</ref>