The Dune: Prophecy Cast Offers Handy Guide to Who’s Who, What HBO Prequel Series Is About — WATCH
Dune: Prophecy — HBO’s prequel series set a full 10,000 years before the Timothée Chalamet/Rebecca Ferguson movie franchise — spans just six episodes in its first season, and a dense six episodes they are.
Premiering this Sunday at 9/8c, the sci-fantasy series opens with a meaty prologue that lays the foundation for the conflict that drives it, but from there it’s full steam ahead, introducing characters and dynamics and agendas that shift like the sands of Arrakis.
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If you’re curious to sample Dune: Prophecy and want an “edge” heading into Sunday’s premiere, TVLine presents the character guide video above, in which the cast and showrunner Alison Schapker offer a CliffsNotes version of who’s who, and what they most want.
Inspired by the Sisterhood of Dune, written by Brian “Son of Frank” Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, Dune: Prophecy follows two Harkonnen sisters — Mother Superior Valya (played by Emily Watson) and Reverend Mother Tula (Counterpart’s Olivia Williams) — as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, to establish the fabled sect that will one day become known as the Bene Gesserit.
In the video above, Watson freely touts Valya’s desire for “world domination,” while Williams gives a sense of kid sister Tulu’s slightly different desires, warning, “Watch out for the quiet ones.”
Next up, Jodhi May (The Witcher) hints at Empress Natalya Corrino’s suspicions about the Harkonnens’ sisterhood, after which Sarah-Sofie Boussnina (Knightfall), Josh Heuston (Heartbreak High) and Chris Mason (Riverdale) tease what bride-to-be Princess Ynez Corrino, bad boy Constantine Corrino and swordsman Keiran “Ancestor of Paul” Atreides are up to when we first meet them.
Around the 2:20 mark, Travis Fimmel (Vikings, Raised by Wolves) tells us just a bit about Desmond Hart and his “mysterious” vendetta, as well as the character’s dynamic with Mark Strong’s Emperor Javicco Corrino.
The sisterhood is comprised of young acolytes, two of whom are played by His Dark Materials‘ Jade Anouka (as Sister Theodosia) and Foundation‘s Chloe Lea (Sister Lila). At the 2:45 mark, the young actors share their character’s specific strengths, and later weigh in on Princess Ynez effortlessly joining their school.
Given that Dune: Prophecy is set 10,000 years before the recent films, how accessible will it be, even to the initiated? Showrunner Alison Schapker (Altered Carbon, Westworld) shows up at the 3:30 mark to assure everyone that, even if you haven’t seen the movies or read the books, the HBO series, most simply said, offers “a tremendous look at a future universe and the rise to power of a very powerful organization.”
Will you give Dune: Prophecy a try this Sunday night?
Want scoop on Dune: Prophecy, or for any other TV show ? Shoot an email to [email protected], and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line!
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