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Meet the Atreides and Harkonnens in Prequel

Vaseline November 18, 2024

A whole new generation of Atreides and Harkonnen families have been introduced in HBO’s prequel series “Dune: Prophecy,” set 10,000 years before the events of Denis Villeneuve’s two “Dune” films.

Because the show is set so far in the past, there are no traces of Timothee Chalamet as Paul Atreides, Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, or Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, but their long-ago ancestors take center stage here. The show follows the origins of the Bene Gesserit, the powerful group of witches who influence the politics of the universe behind the scenes (Rebecca Ferguson’s Lady Jessica and Lea Seydoux’s Lady Margot are two members of the Bene Gesserit in the films). The generations-long feud between the Atreides and Harkonnen family members is also explored in “Dune: Prophecy,” as well as the historical war between humans and thinking machines.

Emily Watson and Olivia Williams play Valya and Tula Harkonnen, two sisters who are high-ranking members of the Bene Gesserit. They plot to gain control of the universe, influence Mark Strong’s Emperor Javicco Corrino (the ancestor of Christopher Walken’s Emperor Shaddam IV), and restore House Harkonnen to its former glory. Their plan involves spreading the Bene Gesserit’s influence across the universe and indoctrinating the Emperor’s own daughter, Princess Ynez (Sarah-Sofie Boussnina). ‘Dune’ fans will meet other members of House Harkonnen and Corrino, and there’s even an Atreides royal added who is the ancestor of Chalamet’s Paul Atreides.

Unlike the films, “Dune: Prophecy” is set outside the sand planet Arrakis and its sandworms, but there are a few characters with origins tied to the desert wasteland.

Check out the full cast below.

Emily Watson as Valya Harkonnen

Valya is the current Mother Superior and heads the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood. Together with her sister Tula, she comes from the disgraced House Harkonnen and hopes to restore its honorable status. She can use the voice and command others to do her bidding. As leader of the Bene Gesserit, she oversees the training of the powerful witches and strategically places them in royal families across the universe to pull the political strings.
Olivia Williams as Tula Harkonnen

Tula is Valya’s sister and teaches members of the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood the arts of manipulation, truth-telling, and combat.
Mark Strong as Emperor Javicco Corrino

Like Christopher Walken’s Emperor Shaddam IV in “Dune: Part 2,” Emperor Javicco oversees the Imperium, which is the entire galactic empire. He comes from a long line of wartime rulers and must overcome an unstable time of peace in the universe.
Jodhi May as Empress Natalya

With her marriage to Emperor Javicco, Natalya united thousands of worlds in the universe in a time of peace. Her daughter is Princess Ynez, who will join the Bene Gesserit and become a powerful member of the royal family.
Sarah-Sofie Boussnina as Princess Ynez

Ynez is the only daughter of the Emperor and Empress, as is her eventual descendant, Florence Pugh’s Princess Irulan in “Dune: Part 2.” She is about to become the newest member of the Bene Gesserit, but finds herself in a complicated situation with her combat instructor Keiran Atreides.
Josh Heuston as Constantine Corrino

Constantine is the illegitimate son of Emperor Javicco, torn between seeking his father’s approval and his own goals. (A handsome bastard from a royal family on an HBO series? Sounds a lot like Jon Snow from ‘Game of Thrones.’)
Chris Mason as Keiran Atreides

Keiran, the only Atreides on the show, is the ancestor of Timothee Chalamet’s Paul Atreides, and the family genes are strong. In addition to being a member of House Atreides, Keiran is also the sword master of the Emperor’s family and trains Princess Ynez, while also being secretly in love with her.
Mark Addy as Evgeny Harkonnen

Evgeny is the uncle of Valya and Tula, and a once powerful member of the exiled House Harkonnen. Since his home fell out of favor in-universe, he’s been looking a little worse for wear – and it’s no surprise that the Harkonnen from the ‘Dune’ films end up bald and pale.
Edward Davis as Harrow Harkonnen

Harrow is another relative of Harkonnen, who advises Evgeny. Together with Valya, he makes plans to make their house great again.
Jihae as Reverend Mother Kasha

Kasha is an ancient member of the Bene Gesserit who personally serves the Emperor. Her place within the ruling family is one of the most important connections the Bene Gesserit has.
Tabu as Sister Francesca

Francesca is a member of the Bene Gesserit and the Emperor’s former lover. Her return to the royal palace makes things a bit awkward, as the Emperor has married Natalya.
Jade Anouka as Sister Theodosia

Theodosia is a trainee with the Bene Gesserit who happens to harbor a dark and powerful secret.
Chloe Lea as Sister Lila

Lila is the youngest member of the Bene Gesserit and has a deep, mysterious connection to its past.
Aoife Hinds as Sister Emeline

Emeline is a zealous Bene Gesserit trainee who comes from a long line of martyrs.
Faoileann Cunningham as Sister Jen

Jen is an unpredictable member of the Bene Gesserit who rarely reveals her true feelings.
Travis Fimmel as Desmond Hart

Desmond is a soldier who survived a mysterious attack on Arrakis. Upon his return, he seeks out the Emperor to share important information and begin a crucial partnership.
Shalom Brune-Franklin as Mikaela

Mikaela is a blue-eyed Fremen who serves the Emperor’s family while longing for the home planet of Arrakis that she never truly knew.