Meet the Atreides and the Harkonnens in the Prequel

On November 19, 2024By Littum

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

Since the show is set so far in the past, there’s no sign 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 the Harkonnen family members is also explored in “Dune: Prophecy,” as is the historical war between humans and thinking machines.

Emily Watson and Olivia Williams star as Valya and Tula Harkonnen, two sisters who are high-ranking members of the Bene Gesserit. They plan 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 influence of the Bene Gesserit 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 a King of the Atreides who is the ancestor of Chalamet’s Paul Atreides.

Unlike the movies, “Dune: Prophecy” takes place away from the sand planet of Arrakis and its sandworms, but there are a few characters with origins that tie into the desert wasteland.

See the full cast below.

Emily Watson as Valya Harkonnen

Valya is the current Mother Superior and leads the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood. Along with her sister Tula, she hails from the disgraced House Harkonnen and hopes to restore its honorable status. She is able to use her 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 political strings.
Olivia Williams as Tula Harkonnen

Tula is Valya’s sister and teaches members of the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood in 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 navigate 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 into a time of peace. Her daughter is Princess Ynez, who is set to join the Bene Gesserit and become a powerful part 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 ready to become the newest member of the Bene Gesserit, but she is drawn into a complicated situation with her combat instructor Keiran Atreides.
Josh Heuston as Constantine Corrino

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

The only Atreides in the show, Keiran 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 a swordsman for the Emperor’s family and trains Princess Ynez – while harboring a secret crush on her.
Mark Addy as Evgeny Harkonnen

Evgeny is Valya and Tula’s uncle and a once powerful member of the exiled House Harkonnen. Since his house has fallen out of favor in the universe, he’s looking a little worse for wear — and it’s no surprise that Harkonnen from the “Dune” movies ends up bald and pale.
Edward Davis as Harrow Harkonnen

Harrow is another Harkonnen family member who advises Evgeny. With Valya, he plans to restore their house to greatness.
Jihae as Pastor Kasha

Kasha is a longtime member of the Bene Gesserit who personally serves the Emperor. Her place among the ruling family is one of the most important connections the Bene Gesserit has.
Taboo 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 little awkward, given that the Emperor has married Natalya.
Jade Anouka as Sister Theodosia

Theodosia is an intern at 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 she has a deep, mysterious connection to its past.
Aoife Hinds as Sister Emeline

Emeline is an eager Bene Gesserit student who comes from a long line of martyrs.
Faoilann 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 has never really known.