Prophecy’s showrunner and the Harkonnen sisters explore what lies ahead in Season 2

Dune: Prophecy I finish His first season with epic, Episode 80 minutes This doesn’t quite connect any of its stories, including the central mystery of who or what is using the banned technology in the creation Biological weapons on Arrakis. So, it’s a good thing that the HBO series will return in the future, a prequel to 10,000 Years Before Denis Villeneuve’s films.

At a press conference marking the end of the first season of “The High Handed Enemy” Dune: ProphecyShowrunner and executive producer Allison Schapker, along with stars Emily Watson (Valia Harkonnen) and Olivia Williams (Tuula Harkonnen), talked mostly about the first season — but they did tease a little about what’s to come.

Speaking about how the series unfolded across six episodes, taking into account its scope and number of characters, Schapker said the team adhered to one guiding rule: “Give each episode its own identity.”

At the same time, she added, it was important to “feel like things have changed and that the characters have gone through something that changes the story going forward.” And it was very important that we always understood Valya’s line and Desmond’s story and Tula’s story. I would say they were our main characters. But then it was about trying to present everyone – and it’s a big world and a dense world. So it was kind of a balance. But I’m really happy with how the six episodes built and reached the end.

As for where she wanted to leave things at the end of the first season, Schapker said, “I wanted to feel like the ground had really moved under their feet by the end of the season, but at the same time we would have revelations that would make us understand these characters and their dynamics differently,” And that there would be a kind of recontextualization of the story so, by the time you’d seen the whole story, you’d understand, “Oh, there was more going on than I initially realized,” which I think is in line with kind of the way that sisters work – The feeling that there are plans within Plans, and that there’s more to the story than you see the first time by the end of the first season, I think you get a real sense of the history of the sisters (Harkonnen), the history of the sisters, and then the real reveal, the truth that comes out and that was important to me, that fundamental shift In dynamics.

When asked about their characters’ state of mind at the end of Season 1, both Watson and Williams were reflective.

“I think everything (has changed between them),” Watson said. “But I think Valya is still holding on to her idea that I’m the chosen one. I have a destiny. (And that’s still) her guide through this. But I’ll be very curious to see what happens next.”

Williams added: “I think the big thing for Tula is the moment where she (says) ‘Please don’t kill my son.’ Trust me, she’s got that. And the fact that (Valia) trusts me and (leaves her with Desmond), without her knowing.” That shortly after my son arrested me – (it’s) that moment between the sisters where Toula was finally entrusted with something, when all these years she had been known to be very capable and effective and was treated as the younger sister sometimes, people like Who They enjoy this personality of staying in the shadows, and it will be interesting to see what would happen if they were pushed forward and if they were able to handle it.

Schapker built on that. “I like the idea of ​​what you’re saying: in some ways the sisters exchange (places) in the sense that Valya retreats into the shadows, and Tula suddenly becomes the forefront in the capital, and what that will mean for them and she said ‘moving forward.’ “But I also think that like any secret it is revealed , The longer you hold it, the pain surrounding it has to be metabolized… This makes you have to rethink your relationship dating back years, How could I have missed something?”

Watson added: “I think it’s also a humiliating moment because everything (my character) did was based on my drive and my sense of truth. But in a way, Valia doesn’t do the humiliation. It’s like I’m not going to do my feelings and I’m not afraid, so I’m just going to keep going.”

Perhaps the biggest question remaining after Season 1 has been asked – who was behind Desmond’s transformation? Schapker remained vague about any potential season 2 spoilers. “(If you look back at Season 1, there are clues to Desmond’s identity and his power and where it all comes from,” she said.) “In terms of some kind of mysterious figure (who is seen controlling his fate in his visions), I think that remains to be seen in The future, but we’re trying to plant it – I don’t know if people notice this, but the cloth that he’s holding when we first see him, when Desmond Hart shows up and salutes and walks into the palace, he’s wearing this black cloth that’s actually kind of a symbol of his mother, And (it reappears) through the entire series that he uses it in private moments as a way to (maintain) some sort of his drive and connection. Finally he meets her and he’s holding her actual dress, and he realizes that what was once a piece of his baby blanket she wrapped him in (. It’s the fabric of sisterhood that he’s been holding on to. And now he’s finally with his mother. I mean we tried to do things like that to build up and predict where the story was going.

Okay, but what about the second bigger question: What happens now that Valya Harkonnen, Keiran Atreides, and Princess Ynez are in Arrakis? Here’s Schapker, as expected, with some hints but not a lot of detail.

“After a season of Arrakis exerting his influence from afar — whether it’s the economics of the spice trade, or the psychological aspects of the visions and nightmares that are kind of the depiction of Arrakis and Desmond’s path seeping into everyone’s consciousness — (it was our chance) to actually go and put our boots on the ground.” In this incredibly specific and almost mythical genre Sand dunes A space we know well but have kept at a distance all season. I think it’s very important that Valya goes back there, and it goes back to Desmond’s original point, where he came up with a story and a legend: “I am from Arrakis and I was swallowed by a worm and survived my death.” The entire regiment was killed. All I’m saying is that I think Valia will discover a lot since it’s where Desmond appears as an antagonist, and it will be interesting to see what she discovers there.

Indeed you will! You can watch Dune: Prophecy Season 1 on HBO and Max; Season 2 is coming but doesn’t have a release date yet.

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