On the heels of “The Penguin” season finale, “Dune: Prophecy” is the next big-budget, IP-driven HBO drama the network is banking on.
The prequel series is set 10,000 years before the events of Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” movies starring Timothée Chalamet, which together grossed over $1 billion at the global box office. “Dune: Prophecy” focuses on the rise of the Bene Gesserit, a sect of women that secretly seek to control the fate of the Imperium.
Given the show’s place in the “Dune” timeline, viewers won’t see familiar faces like Paul Atreides (Chalamet) or Chani (Zendaya). The big ensemble cast includes new characters (both ones from the book “Dune: Prophecy” is partially based on and original characters created for the show), and it may be hard to keep track of all of them.
Here’s what to know about all the major “Dune: Prophecy” characters, and details to keep in mind while you’re watching the show.
Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen
Valya is the second Mother Superior (the group’s supreme leader) in the Sisterhood’s existence, and she was close to the previous one, Raquella. Jessica Barden plays Valya in her youth, while Emily Watson plays her as an adult.
In an interview ahead of the premiere, Watson described Valya as “someone who’s had terrible childhood trauma and has inner rage, and that’s always great acting fuel.”
“She’s been chosen by this charismatic leader and told that she’s special, and told that she has a function in the future of mankind she’s going to affect,” Watson told BI.
“She’s going to be the one, she’s chosen,” she continued. “And it’s a really dangerous thing to do to a powerful young person because they think they are kind of above the law.”
Reverend Mother Tula Harkonnen
Tula is Valya’s empathetic younger sister and also a Reverend Mother. In her youth, she’s played by Emma Canning. As an adult, she’s played by Olivia Williams.
“There’s a terrible, terrible loss in Tula’s past, which is entirely due to her lack of confidence in herself, and a form of self-loathing that leads her to do something dreadful and unthinkable,” Williams told BI.
Mother Superior Raquella Berto-Anirul
Raquella Berto-Anirul founded the Sisterhood and was its first Mother Superior. Before founding the Sisterhood, she fought in the war against the machines.
Raquella is determined to grow the Sisterhood’s numbers and continue to push the boundaries of what it means to be human.
Reverend Mother Dorotea
The zealous Reverend Mother Dorotea is Raquella’s granddaughter, and initially named co-leader of the Sisterhood alongside Valya. A foil to Valya, Dorotea is pious and determined to return the Sisterhood to what she believes are its core values.
Reverend Mother Kasha
Yerin Ha plays the young Reverend Mother Kasha, while Jihae plays the older version of Kasha when she’s assigned as the Truthsayer to Emperor Corrino (Mark Strong).
Kasha is caught between her allegiance to the Sisterhood and her bond with Princess Ynez, who she’s known since Ynez’s childhood.
Sister Francesca
Sister Francesca is a member of the sisterhood, who was described as a former “great love of the Emperor.” She’s played by Charithra Chandran in her younger years, and Tabu as an adult.
Sister Lila
Lila is a talented and empathetic young acolyte who was raised by the Sisterhood on Wallach IX. They’re the only family she’s ever known. She’s loyal to the Sisterhood and their mission, but also curious about her own past.
Chloe Lea told BI that Lila is “trying to figure out who she is.”
Sister Theodosia
Theodosia is one of the acolytes in training on Wallach IX, the Sisterhood’s home planet, at the start of the series. She’s extremely loyal to the Sisterhood, which took her in when she needed a safe haven.
Jade Anouka, who plays Theo, describes her as “ambitious, mysterious, and capable.”
Sister Emeline
Sister Emeline, played by Aoife Hinds, is another acolyte of the Sisterhood. She’s a religious zealot and descended from a line of martyrs.
Sister Jen
Faoileann Cunningham’s Sister Jen is described as a fiercely independent and unpredictable Acolyte. The outspoken Jen questions her place in the Sisterhood and its objectives.
Emperor Javicco Corrino
Mark Strong plays Emperor Javicco Corrino, who rules the galaxy and is currently in control of Spice production on Arrakis. He doesn’t live on the desert planet. Instead, he rules it from his home on Salusa Secundus.
Empress Natalya
Jodhi May plays Empress Natalya, Emperor Corrino’s strong-willed wife.
“I love the fact that Natalya has to operate in a way that’s pretty underhanded, so it’s a real exploration of power that we are not necessarily used to seeing,” May told BI. “She’s almost like a kind of politician who has to maneuver and manipulate.”
Princess Ynez Corrino
Ynez Corrino (played by Sarah-Sofie Boussnina) is a fiercely independent princess who’s determined to study with the Sisterhood and forge her own path.
“Ynez is the heir to the Golden Lion Throne, so she’s used to being listened to and respected by her parents,” Boussnina told BI.
Boussnina said Ynez is determined to fight for what she believes in and has a small circle of people that she truly trusts, making it hard for her to open up.
Constantine Corrino
Josh Heuston plays Constantine Corrino, the Emperor’s illegitimate son who lives with the rest of the royal family on Salusa Secundus.
“He’s always torn between seeking his father’s approval and then also going after what he believes and trying not to get distracted along the way,” Heuston told BI. “But as the series progresses, you definitely see him start to come into his own and go for what he believes in.”
Keiran Atreides
Keiran Atreides is the royal swordmaster, who struggles with the court’s corruption and his own family’s legacy.
Chris Mason, who plays Keiran, told BI that Keiran, much like Ynez, has a strong sense of what’s right and a desire to follow it.
Desmond Hart
Travis Fimmel plays Desmond Hart, a mysterious and charismatic veteran soldier who ingratiates himself to the Emperor. Once he gets close to the Emperor, his intentions become a bit more mysterious.
“Desmond certainly doesn’t want to be in control of everything,” Fimmel told BI. “But he wants the Imperium to be in safe hands, and he’ll do whatever he can to manipulate that.”
Harrow Harkonnen
Edward Davis is Harrow Harkonnen, who is trying to transform his house back into a powerful entity. The Harkonnens eventually become the archenemies of House Atreides in the “Dune” movies.
Evgeny Harkonnen
Evgeny Harkonnen (Mark Addy) is the uncle of Valya and Tula. He’s the patriarch of House Harkonnen and blames Valya for their family’s fall from grace.
Duke Ferdinand Richese
Duke Ferdinand Richese (Brendan Cowell) is an important military ally to the Emperor. When the series begins, he and his family arrive on Salusa Secundus, the home planet of House Corrino.
Lady Shannon Richese
Lady Shannon Richese (Tessa Bonham Jones) is the daughter of Duke Ferdinand Richese.
Pruwet Richese
Pruwet Richese is the 9-year-old son of Duke Ferdinand Richese and his heir. Pruwet, a mischievous child, is betrothed to the much older Princess Ynez as part of an alliance between their houses.
Mikaela
Shalom Brune-Franklin plays Mikaela, a Fremen woman from Arrakis who lives on the Emperor’s planet. She works in a spice den on Salusa Secundus.
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