AtNew York Comic Con,Dune: Prophecystar Emily Watson explains her new Harkonnen character and her connection to the family. A prequel to Denis Villeneuve’sDunemovies set 10,000 years prior, the upcoming HBO series explores the beginnings of the Bene Gesserit, the secretive sisterhood that undergoes rigorous training to achieve extraordinary abilities, focusing on the sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen.Dune: Prophecy’s castincludes Emily Watson as Valya and Olivia Williams as Tula alongside Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Travis Fimmel, Mark Strong, Chris Mason, and many more.
In an interview withScreen Rantat New York Comic Con, Emily Watson explained her new character, Valya, and her connection to the Harkonnen family inDune: Prophecy. The actress described her character as a deeply troubled individual shaped by a traumatic childhood and driven by a desire for vengeance. As a result, she channels this aggression into her ambition to control the fate of humankind through her involvement in the Bene Gesserit. Read Watson’s full comments below:
That’s one of the things that I found really delicious about getting my teeth into this, is that they are such a messed up family. They’ve had this really traumatic childhood and she’s driven by a sense of being very aggrieved, a vengeance, but she channels it all into becoming part of the sisterhood and really trying to control the fate of human kind. I mean, that’s her ambition.
What Emily Watson’s Comments Mean For Dune: Prophecy
It’s Also A Family Drama
Emily Watson’s comments highlight how, similar to the originalDunebookwritten by Frank Herbert which chronicles the conflict between the Atreides and the Harkonnens,the prequel series also sounds like a family drama.Dune: Prophecyseems to delve deep into the intense family dynamics of the Harkonnen lineage, particularly through the lens of Valya. As Watson describes, the Harkonnens are portrayed as a deeply dysfunctional family, shaped by trauma and strife. Driven by feelings of grievance and vengeance stemming from her traumatic childhood, Valya channels her ambitions into the Bene Gesserit and tries to control the fate of humanity.
Dune: Prophecy Timeline - How Long Before The Movies It’s Set
Dune: Prophecy will take place several millennia before the events of Dune but will still feature Harkonnens, Carrinos, Atreides, & the Bene Gesserit.
While both are family dramas, the key difference between Frank Herbert’s original book andDune: Prophecyis that the former portrayed the Atreides family as noble protagonists, whileHouse Harkonnenare depicted as ruthless villains. However, inDune: Prophecy,the story shifts perspective to center on the Harkonnens as protagonists, exploring their history of trauma, grievances, and struggle. This should shed some light on how they later become the ruthless villains they are known to be, driven by greed and cruelty.
Our Take On Dune: Prophecy’s Valya Harkonnen
Why She’s An Appropriate Protagonist
Valya Harkonnen is an appropriate protagonist forDune: Prophecysince she embodies motivations reminiscent of Paul Atreides, who is also driven by grievances and a desire for revenge. In doing so, the prequel should offer a fresh perspective on the Harkonnen family history, allowing audiences to understand the trauma that contributed to their villainous ways. Hopefully, this should also shed light on how the intricate dynamics within a family often paint in shades of cruelty and greed.
Dune: Prophecy
Cast
Set in the universe of Frank Herbert’s Dune series, Dune: Prophecy, a sci-fi epic, follows the political and spiritual struggles on the desert planet of Arrakis. As factions vie for control of the prized spice melange, a prophesied hero emerges, challenging the balance of power and the fate of the galaxy.
