Dune: Prophecy Star Emily Watson Says Series Won’t Be ‘Childish’ or ‘Like Star Wars’

Dune: Prophecy star Emily Watson says the upcoming HBO series won’t be “childish” or “like Star Wars.”

Dune: Prophecy will premiere on HBO and Max in November 2024. Watson is playing Valya Harkonnen in the prequel series, which also stars Olivia Williams as Tula Harkonnen, Jodhi May as Empress Natalya, Mark Strong as Emperor Javicco Corrino, and more.

Speaking to Total Film Magazine, Watson discussed what fans can expect from Dune: Prophecy and how it has a certain kind of “moral complexity” she finds interesting.

“It was very exciting, but also very great to go into that world with the security of knowing I’ve got the skill set to make everything feel real,” Watson said. “It’s a very interesting palette because it’s not childish… it’s not like Star Wars. It has a moral complexity, which is interesting.”

What do we know about Dune: Prophecy?

“From the expansive universe of Dune, created by acclaimed author Frank Herbert, and 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, Dune: Prophecy follows two Harkonnen sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind and establish the fabled sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit,” the official logline reads. “Dune: Prophecy is inspired by the novel ‘Sisterhood of Dune,’ written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.”

Watson further said that the Harkonnens are “very recognizably human and complicated” and “less extreme” compared to their portrayal in Dune and Dune: Part Two, though she noted they’re also still “a bit of a f***ed-up family.”

She added, “[The series] is built around the Bene Gesserit order. That’s the sisterhood. That’s one of the central characters in it, and all the universes that they control, and their power… it’s kind of fascinating.”

Developed by Diane Ademu-John and Alison Schapker, Dune: Prophecy does not yet have an official premiere date.

Brandon Schreur

Brandon Schreur has been writing about comics, movies, television shows, and all things pop culture for roughly five years. He's a lifelong cinephile who spends way, way too much money buying Blu-rays and trade paperbacks. You can find him on twitter at @brandonschreur.