The bar is high regarding HBO’s Dune series, but it was a challenge the show’s cast and crew were willing to meet.

Set in Frank Herbert’s Dune universe, Dune: Prophecy focuses on the early days of the Galactic Imperium as the Bene Gesserit sisterhood and the Landsraad houses embark on a quest for power and influence.

What is the series about?

According to the show’s official description, “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.”

“There is one part of me that’s been white-knuckling it the whole time because it’s such a high bar,” showrunner Alison Schapker told Blavity’s Shadow and Act about stepping in to lead Dune: Prophecy. “It means so much to so many people. It’s just been infused with all this excitement recently, but for all the same reasons that it’s scary, are all the same reasons it’s kind of like also undeniably exciting, too.”

How do the actors approach the moral gray area in the source material and movies?

Actresses Chloe Lea and Jade Anouka echoed experiences similar to Schapker’s in that they knew they’d have some big shoes to fill as Sister Lila and Sister Theodosia in Dune: Prophecy.

“It was a sharp learning curve,” Lea said. “I wasn’t not a fan. I just [wasn’t] clued up. I hadn’t done all of my homework on the Dune world. And like you say, it’s vast, and it’s detailed, and coming into this and working on it, it has really ignited an interest in it and finding out more. We found out loads on set, and our showrunner, Alison, is a fountain of knowledge about the ‘Duniverse,'” adding, “It’s been really interesting learning just how vast it is, and the possibilities are kind of endless.”

When asked about the moral gray within the series, Lea said it encapsulates the show.

“I think that what’s really interesting about it, because we’ve got our leads Valya and Tula, and I feel like it’s not as simple as knowing if they’re good guys or bad guys, or if you’re on their side or not. I feel that’s also interesting with a character like Lila, who genuinely wants to do the right thing by everyone,” she said. “It’s interesting to see how that directly affects her and her actions throughout the show.”

Who else stars in the series?

Along with Chloe Lea and Jade Anouka as Sister Lila and Sister Theodosia, Dune: Prophecy stars Jodhi May as Empress Natalya Corrino, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina as Princess Ynez Corrino, Shalom Brune-Franklin as Mikaela, Josh Heuston as Constantine Corrino and Chris Mason as Keira Atreides.

Additionally, Emily Watson and Olivia Williams are leading cast members thanks to their portrayal as Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen and Reverend Mother Tula Corrino.

What it was like joining the project for veteran actresses like Watson and Williams

Only with Dune: Prophecy did veteran actresses Watson and Williams have the opportunity to work together and star in the same project over the years. The pair said this moment was an absolute treat.

“We first met in the last millennium sitting outside a pub in Stratford-on-Avon called The Dirty Duck, when we were impoverished stage actors at the Royal Shakespeare Company, and we haven’t worked together,” Williams recalled. “We never actually acted in a scene together until now, and to do it when we’re both trying to take over the universe was an absolute privilege.”

Watson added, “We’ve [been] kind of pinching ourselves [in this] moment, because when we were younger, when we were in our 30s, we were definitely in a game of diminishing returns. This wasn’t in the map, and here we are, which has been so much fun to play these really badass women together.”

“And to find out you think you know someone. I know Emily’s work very well, and I know her as a person, but when you’re acting together, it’s a whole other personality. We would feel similar, but actually, the way we work was different, and it was fun to play tennis, you know, to hit the ball over the net and get it back in unexpected ways,” Williams mentioned.

New episodes air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and the show streams on Max.

Watch the full cast interviews below:

Emily Watson

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