Very Recognizably Human: Dune: Prophecys Harkonnen Characters Previewed By Star
Dune: Prophecy star Emily Watson previews the very different Harkonnen characters that will be featured in the HBO show. Based on source material by Frank Herbert, the upcoming series takes place 10,000 years before the story of Paul Atreides in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films. Dune: Prophecy chronicles the creation of the Bene Gesserit, following two sisters, Valya (Watson) and Tula Harkonnen (Olivia Williams), as they face off against forces that threaten the future of humanity.
In a recent interview with Total Film (via GamesRadar+), Watson addresses the Harkonnen characters in Dune: Prophecy, teasing that audiences should expect them to be “less extreme” than in the movies. According to the actor, the Harkonnens will be “very recognizably human and complicated.” She stresses, however, that they’re still “a bit of a f–ked up family.” Read Watson’s other comments below:
“It’s 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.
“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 Watson’s Harkonnen Update Means For Dune: Prophecy
How It Will Be Different From Denis Villeneuve’s Movies
The reviews for Dune: Part Two (2024) and its 2021 predecessor were generally very positive, but the Harkonnens, Stellan Skarsgård’s Baron Vladimir Harkonnen in particular, are presented as very clear villains. Figures like the Baron and like Austin Butler’s Feyd-Rautha aren’t morally gray characters, they are, like the Galactic Empire in Star Wars, evil. Watson’s new update for Dune: Prophecy suggests that the upcoming HBO show won’t be telling a black-and-white story, and it now has the opportunity to complicate what audiences think they know about the Harkonnen family.
The Dune: Prophecy cast of characters are all entirely new figures that audiences haven’t met before, and adding in this moral ambiguity is fitting for a story focused on the Bene Gesserit. This mysterious sisterhood has a great deal of political, religious, and social power, and its mission to steer humankind on a beneficial course will undoubtedly mean making difficult choices that may not seem inherently good in the moment. Featuring complicated character dynamics and a morally complex story could ultimately result in a deepening of the world of Dune.
Rebecca Ferguson’s Lady Jessica, Paul’s mother, was a member of the Bene Gesserit in the two
Dune
films.
Our Take On The More Layered Harkonnen Characters In Dune: Prophecy
Why It’s The Right Move For The HBO Series
Having clear villains is great for blockbuster entertainment, but not defining who the antagonists are based on their bloodlines could ultimately make Dune: Prophecy feel like a more mature and adult journey into the world that Herbert created. Villeneuve’s two films in the franchise certainly have a lot of nuance and character depth, but the television format will allow for a deeper exploration of the Harkonnen family and their place in the larger universe.
Adding moral complexity to each character could ultimately make Dune: Prophecy more surprising. If there are no obvious villains at the start, the show has an opportunity to feature some shocking reveals regarding who viewers should be rooting for. It remains to be seen whether Dune: Prophecy will match the acclaim of Villeneuve’s two movies, but Watson’s latest update is a positive sign.
Source: Total Film (via GamesRadar+)
