People Simply Cannot Believe Jason Momoa’s Character In ‘Dune’ Is Actually Named Duncan Idaho

This weekend, after a year’s delay — to say nothing of being in development hell for over a decade — the latest big screen adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal sci-fi novel Dune finally hit theaters. And despite also being available on HBO Max, it went over gangbusters, topping the theatrical box office at home and elsewhere. It’s great news for Herbert’s famously tough-to-film classic. But people online still took umbrage with one aspect: Is there really a character named “Duncan Idaho”

Me: “Alright”

Dune: “Space drugs are only on a dirt planet with giant worms and also the new space messiah”

Me: “Pretty reasonable”

Dune: “There’s a character named Duncan Idaho”

Me: “okay hold on

— Mike Drucker (@MikeDrucker) October 24, 2021

It is the year 10191. Interstellar travel has been mastered, and laser weapons and cloning are possible. The toughest man alive is named Duncan Idaho

— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) October 24, 2021

There is! Duncan Idaho is the “swordmaster” for the goodly House Atreides, and he’s played by Jason Momoa, in what is arguably the film’s most likable performance. Should the other novels in the series be filmed, he’ll be back. Though the story spans thousands and thousands of years, people keep cloning him, over and over and over again. Every character, beloved or hissable, dies at some point over the novels, but Duncan Idaho was so beloved that Herbert kept bringing him back for more.

Still, he is named “Duncan Idaho.”

And so many on social media had the same idea: What a kooky name, let’s make jokes.

— Clare Rey (@claresrey) October 23, 2021

My favorite character on Dune is Duncan Idaho. pic.twitter.com/YVRhvzkAzh

— Adam Kotsko (@adamkotsko) October 24, 2021

america runs on duncan idaho