Dune: Prophecy is an American sci-fi TV show by Diane Ademu-John and Alison Schapker. It first aired on November 17, 2024 on HBO. It is based on the novel Great Schools of Dune written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. The show is a prequel to the Dune film series. It is set 10,000 years before the events take place in Dune. It follows the lives of sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen as they fight against the forces threatening the future of humanity.
It was a highly anticipated prequel after the success of Dune and Dune: Part Two. Unlike the films, the series does not take place on the sandy planet of Arrakis, though it features characters who are from the desert wasteland. The show has a big star cast which includes renowned veterans and rising stars. Let's take a closer look at the talented star cast of Dune: Prophecy.
Emily Watson as Valya Harkonnen
Emily Watson plays the role of Valya Harkonnen in the show. She is the current Mother Superior and the leader of the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood. As a leader, she supervises the physical and mental training of the powerful witches, placing them in royal families throughout the universe to gain political power.
Emily Watson is a British actress born on January 14, 1967, in London. She is best known for Breaking the Waves (1996), Hilary and Jackie (1998), Gosford Park (2001), Red Dragon (2002), Appropriate Adult (2011), and Chornobyl (2019). Throughout her career, she has won many awards including the Screen Actors Guild Award, BAFTA TV Award, etc. She has been nominated twice for Academy Awards.
Olivia Williams as Tula Harkonnen
Olivia Williams plays the role of Tula Harkonnen in the show. She is Valya Harkonnen’s sister and Reverend Mother of the Sisterhood. She teaches the art of manipulation, truth-telling, and combat to the members of Sisterhood. Initially, the role of Tula Harkonnen was supposed to be played by Shirley Henderson but later it went to Olivia Williams in 2023.
Olivia Williams is a British actress born on July 26, 1968, in North London. She started her acting career with the TV film Emma in 1996. She is best known for her work in The Sixth Sense (1999), An Education (2009), The Ghost Writer (2010), and The Crown (2022-2023). She has been nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award three times.
Mark Strong as Emperor Javicco Corrino
Mark Strong plays the role of Emperor Javicco Corrino in the show. Javicco Corrino is the Emperor of the known universe and oversees the Imperium. He controls the Spice production in Arrakis. He rules the known universe from his home on Salusa Secundus. He was cast for the role in December 2022.
Mark Strong is a British actor born on August 5, 1963, in London, England. He is best known for his work in The Long Firm (2004), Stardust (2007), RocknRolla (2008), Sherlock Holmes (2009), Green Lantern (2011), The Imitation Game (2014), Shazam! (2019), Cruella (2021), and Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023).
Jodhi May as Empress Natalya
Jodhi May plays the role of Empress Natalya in the show. Empress Natalya is the wife of Emperor Javicco Corrino and the mother of Princess Ynez. She united thousands of worlds into a time of peace in her marriage. In 2022, Indira Varma was cast as Empress Natalya but later she was replaced by Jodhi May in 2023.
Jodhi May is an English actress born in 1975. She started her acting career at the young age of 12 with the film A World Apart in 1988. She was awarded the Best Actress award for this film at the Cannes Film Festival. She has worked on many projects like The Last of the Mohicans (1992), Sister My Sister (1994), Aristocrats (1999), I, Anna (2011), A Quiet Passion (2016), The Witcher (2019), etc.
Travis Fimmel as Desmond Hart
Travis Fimmel plays the role of Desmond Hart in the show. Desmond Hart is the mysterious soldier of the Imperial army who survived the attack on Arrakis. He has a partnership with the Emperor, as the Emperor trusts him. He is an enemy of the Sisterhood. Travis Fimmel was cast as Desmond Hart in 2022.
Travis Fimmel is an Australian actor born on July 15, 1979, in Echuca, Victoria, Australia. He started his acting career by appearing in music videos for Janet Jackson and Jennifer Lopez in 2001. He has worked on many projects including Maggie's Plan (2015), Warcraft (2016), Vikings (2013-2017), Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan (2019), Dreamland (2019), etc.
Sarah-Sofie Boussnina as Princess Ynez
Sarah-Sofie Boussnina plays the role of Princess Ynez in the show. Princess Ynez is the only daughter of Emperor Javicco Corrino and Empress Natalya. She is an independent princess who wants to be a part of the Sisterhood. She gets involved with her combat instructor Keiran Atreides. Sarah-Sofie Boussnina was cast as Princess Ynez in 2022.
Sarah-Sofie Boussnina is a Danish actress born on December 28, 1990, in Svendborg, Denmark. She has worked on many projects including The Absent One (2014), 1864 (2014), The Bridge (2015), Tides (The Colony) (2021), etc.
Josh Heuston as Constantine Corrino
Josh Heuston plays the role of Constantine Corrino in the show. Constantine Corrino is the illegitimate son of Emperor Javicco and looks for his father’s approval. He works for his own goals and does what he believes in. Josh Heuston was cast as Constantine Corrino in December 2022.
Josh Heuston is an Australian actor born on November 18, 1996, in Sydney, Australia. She started her acting career with the TV show Dive Club in 2021. He has worked on many projects including More Than This (2022), Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), Heartbreak High (2022–present), Bali 2002 (2022), etc.
Chris Mason as Keiran Atreides
Chris Mason plays the role of Keiran Atreides in the show. Keiran Atreides is House Corrino’s new Swordmaster. He is the ancestor to Timothee Chalamet’s character Paul Atreides. He faces struggles with the royal court’s corruption and his family’s legacy. He was assigned to train Princess Ynez in swordplay.
Chris Mason is an English actor born on February 14, 1991, in Edge Hill, Liverpool. He started his acting career with the TV series Justice in 2011. He has worked on many projects including Lightfields (2013), Vampire Academy (2014), Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists (2019), Riverdale (2021), Law & Order: Organized Crime (2021), Doctor Who (2024), etc.
Tabu as Sister Francesca
Tabu plays the role of Sister Francesca in the show. Sister Francesca is a powerful member of the Sisterhood. She is the former lover of the Emperor Javicco Corrino. She is the friend and follower of Valya Harkonnen, the current Mother Superior. Her return to the royal palace affects the balance of power.
Tabassum Fatima Hashmi, popularly known as Tabu, is an Indian actress born on November 4, 1971, in Hyderabad, India. She started her acting career with the film Hum Naujawan in 1985. She has worked on many successful projects including Virasat (1997), Biwi no. 1 (1999), Chandni Bar (2001), Maqbool (2004), The Namesake (2006), Life of Pi (2012), Andhadhun (2018), Drishyam 2 (2022), etc.
FAQs about Dune: Prophecy
A. Anna Foerster is the director of Dune: Prophecy.
A. Yes, Dune: Prophecy is the prequel series to Denis Villeneuve's Dune film series.
A. Emily Watson plays the role of Valya Harkonnen.