Dune: Prophecy Stars Address Game of Thrones Comparisons to New HBO Series

As a seasoned gamer and avid sci-fi/fantasy enthusiast who’s been through the highs and lows of epic sagas like Star Wars, Star Trek, and most recently, Game of Thrones, I can confidently say that my anticipation for Dune: Prophecy on HBO is sky-high. The tantalizing blend of political intrigue, family feuds, and cosmic adventure has already piqued my interest, but what sets this series apart is its focus on the complexities and power struggles among women.

The new HBO series, titled “Dune: Prophecy“, is set to premiere on November 17th. Although it’s a prequel to Frank Herbert’s “Dune” saga, happening 10,000 years before the tale of Paul Atreides, it shares some resemblance with another HBO hit, “Game of Thrones“. Both series feature intricate alliances, power struggles, and betrayal, but Dune: Prophecy leans more towards science fiction while Game of Thrones is steeped in fantasy. However, according to Olivia Williams and Emily Watson, who star in the series, despite some similarities due to their human narratives, they are distinct because “Dune: Prophecy” focuses on women’s roles more prominently.

As a gamer, I find myself reflecting on my recent encounter with Emily, where we stood before the Tudor portraits at London’s National Gallery, examining Elizabeth the First and her kin, offspring and cousins of Henry the Eighth. It was fascinating to observe how these women could express affection through a letter and sign a death warrant using the same pen. Williams, portraying Tula Harkonnen, made this observation. History certainly has a connection here, but it’s Valya who poses an intriguing question: which is more potent, history or prophecy?

“I think a difference in this is that the main protagonists in this are women,” Watson, who plays Valya Harkonnen, said. “It obviously covers the whole spectrum, there’s lots of other people, but you know, in the sense that it is centered around this sisterhood, I think that makes it unique and interesting and I’m not in any way holding these women up as kind of feminist icons because they are not. It’s very much a question of don’t do this at home, but great for us to have that range to play with. Not a potato peeler in sight.

Williams stated, “The females in our series aren’t mere accessories to the males, which differentiates us from ‘Game of Thrones.’

In the series “Dune: Prophecy,” we follow sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen as they battle forces endangering humanity’s future and establish the legendary Bene Gesserit order. Similar to both “Dune” and “Dune: Part 2,” which were massive successes for Warner Bros., this series has done exceptionally well on Max, as confirmed by showrunner Alison Schapker. Remarkably, viewers need not have watched the movies or read the books to enjoy the series, since it will also delve into the origins of the Harkonnen/Atreides feud central to later “Dune” narratives.

At New York Comic Con earlier this year, Schapker stated, “It’s an excellent method if you’re not yet acquainted with ‘Dune’. To achieve such expansive scale, we require a significant amount of confidence from our collaborators. They advised us not to be timid.

Besides Williams and Watson, the cast of Dune: Prophecy includes Sarah-Sofie Boussnina playing Princess Ynez, Shalom Brune Franklin portraying Mikaela, Faoileann Cunningham as Sister Jen, Aoife Hinds as Sister Emeline, Chloe Lea as Lila, Travis Fimmel in the role of Demond Hart, Mark Strong as Emperor Javicco Corrino, Jade Anouka as Sister Theodosia, and Chris Mason as Keiran Atreides.

What Do We Know About Dune 3?

In the world of Dune, Dune: Prophecy offers a glimpse into its past, yet fans are eagerly looking forward to the future of this franchise as well. The highly anticipated sequel, Dune: Part 2, was one of the standout films in 2024, and there’s already buzz about a potential third movie in the series. If produced, Dune 3 would adapt Frank Herbert’s contentious follow-up novel, Dune Messiah. At this stage, Warner Bros. hasn’t given the green light for a third Dune film, but director Denis Villeneuve has hinted at what a third Dune movie might entail. Recently, Villeneuve confirmed that war would play a significant role in a potential third film – a suggestion that gives us some insight into which parts of Dune Messiah a potential third movie might focus on.

Dune: Prophecy debuts Sunday, November 17^th on HBO.

2024-11-13 03:41

What Do We Know About Dune 3?

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