Olivia Williams and Emily Watson Finally Join Forces To Shape and Shake The World in DUNE: PROPHECY

By BILL HARRIS Special to The Lede Early in the first episode of HBO’s DUNE: PROPHECY, there’s an observation about people in general that seems to be both a compliment and an insult. “Humanity’s greatest weapon is the lie,” says Tula Harkonnen, played by Olivia Williams, addressing a group of young students. “Human beings rely on lies to survive. We lie to our enemies, we lie to our friends, we lie to ourselves. Lying is among the most sophisticated tasks a brain can perform. Because, for most of us, we don’t like to lie. The body rejects it.” And how does the human body reject lying? Dilated pupils, changes in breathing, perspiration, accelerated heartbeat, things like that. Of course, some of those same symptoms are what the creators and cast of DUNE: PROPHECY – which premieres Sunday, Nov. 17, only on Crave – are hoping to elicit from viewers. A prequel to the original novel and the film versions of Dune, DUNE: PROPHECY is a six-episode series that focuses on the origins of the Bene Gesserit, an exclusive sisterhood that undergoes intense mental and physical training to fine-tune special powers and wield a great influence on the future of humankind. The series is set about 10,000 years prior to the events depicted in the book and movies. Emily Watson plays Valya Harkonnen, the intense leader of the sisterhood, who sees herself as having a job to do, and she’s intent on doing it, even in the face of growing evidence that her single-mindedness could be based on a big lie. Valya’s zealotry is sometimes questioned by her more kindly tempered but no less committed sister Tula. “I think the secret of playing a younger sister, and being a younger sister, when your older sister has occupied the ‘full of sound and fury’ position, is that you internalize, and keep your rage inside, and keep it quiet – but, you know, watch out for the quiet ones,” Williams said during a virtual panel session to promote DUNE: PROPHECY. “And the other thing is, (Tula) is a science nerd, so the way she finds of eliminating her enemies is extremely efficient and quiet and extremely effective. She also has a sort of softness. She’s troubled by her conscience. But does it make you a better person if you cry while you’re killing people?” As for Watson, she said that more valuable insight into why Valya turned out the way she did is coming as the season progresses. “There is a moment, further down the line in this, where we see why Valya’s heart just froze, and everything she does is fueled by rage and a sense of vengeance,” Watson explained. “And then she was spotted by a charismatic cult leader who said, ‘I see you. You’re very powerful. You’re very special. Very talented. Come and help me shape the future of mankind.’ And that’s an incredibly dangerous, enabling thing to do to someone who, essentially, probably bears some kind of DNA relation to a shark, I think.” Shark references notwithstanding, DUNE: PROPHECY is not a nature show, unless you’re talking about human nature. There’s something about the franchise – which began with the 1965 novel Dune by Frank Herbert, and extended to two movie versions in 1984 (available on Crave) and 2021, as well as the sequel Dune: Part Two in 2023 (on Crave as well) – that has remained relevant in a way that some other sci-fi classics have not. “I think that the Dune universe is just so vividly realized,” said Alison Schapker, the showrunner and executive producer of DUNE: PROPHECY. “It’s so visceral and specific and deep and provocative. It just has all the hallmarks of great storytelling, because it leads you through an imagination of the future that, I think, is very unique. This notion that we’re imagining a future where technology that we’re familiar with today has been banned, and people are rebuilding humanity, and asking themselves, what does it mean to be human, is a fascinating place to set a story. But then you’re also led through by these iconic characters who just take you on the journey. So I think it’s a classic. I think it’s one of the most influential science fiction works ever written. And to be part of any corner of the Dune universe is a tremendous privilege.” Of course, Schapker has put her own stamp on it, too, which is not lost on Williams and Watson, two acclaimed veteran British actresses who previously had not crossed paths professionally. “The other thing we have to thank Alison for, and for adding to it, is that one of the really interesting questions we’ve been asked is, ‘why haven’t you (Williams and Watson) ever acted together before?’ ” Williams said. “I was like, find me a script where there are parts for two 50-year-old women with equal status in the same story, you know? So thank you for allowing me to act with Emily, finally.” billharristv@gmail.com @billharris_tv