How Dune: Prophecy Brought One of the Franchises Scariest Families to Life

Logo text [This story contains major spoilers through Dune: Prophecy season one, episode four.] For those whose Dune experience is limited to Denis Villeneuve’s two films, the latest episode of HBO’s prequel series Dune: Prophecy was likely a bit of a shock. Not just because Travis Fimmel’s Desmond Hart incinerated several high-rankings members of imperial houses, and not just because Mother Superior Valya (Emily Watson) basically shouted her uncle to death. Instead, it’s because of two of the people who were opposite Hart and Valya in this episode: Harrow and Evgeny of House Harkonnen, the deadliest house in the known Dune universe. Played by Edward Davis and Game of Thrones star Mark Addy, respectively, the two Harkonnens could not be more different from one another in appearance and personality. But the distinction is even greater when compared against Vladimir Harkonnen and his nephew Feyd-Rautha, played in Villeneuve’s movies by Stellan Skarsgard and Austin Butler. At that point in the timeline, the Harkonnens are bleak, bald and colorless individuals. The Harkonnens of Dune: Prophecy are bleak, to be sure, but markedly different in their common appearance and their relatively low-stature in the empire. Of course, the Harkonnen’s standing will certainly change, if not in Dune: Prophecy, then definitely at some point in the 10,000 years between the show and the movies. And already, Evgeny Harkonnen has changed dramatically — from alive to dead. What’s with these HBO fantasy epics killing Addy off in their first season? That crucial question and more about being a Harkonnen are answered below by the show’s latest arrivals — and, in Addy’s case at least, the show’s latest departure. *** How did you prepare to become a Harkonnen? EDWARD DAVIS I’d seen the first film already, but when I got the job, I immediately bought the book, which I hadn’t read. I also got the audiobook, which I immersed myself in. I find audiobooks are really good for getting into a world of something. I also created a playlist for Harrow… What was on it? DAVIS The first song is Bauhaus’ “Bela Lugosi is Dead.” I tried to find some punk songs that would make him feel cool, and would probably not want others to know he’s listening to. (Laughs) But I was only somewhat into the world of Dune, and I found that to be the perfect position to be in. You’re there, you’re into it, but you’re not terrified of the prospect of doing “it” service. Mark, how about your process? MARK ADDY I was cast relatively late. I had a conversation with [showrunner Alison Schapker], and a week later, I was getting a head cast and we were in the thick of it. I hadn’t read the books, but I’d seen the two movies … Alison knows Dune inside and out. She gave me the whole background of what drives a Harkonnen, which was very useful. She got me into why he is this bitter, twisted old man, and why he blames Valya for the family’s downfall and shame. You know, the first episode [of the series] is quite heavy with exposition, but that’s for people who aren’t familiar with the material. You need to give them a chance to understand this world and how it works. There’s a lot to take on board in that very first episode, but you’re pretty quickly into the story after that. Were you worried they were going to make you bathe in black goo like Stellan Skarsgård? ADDY Luckily, it was just the hover chair I had to contend with! Edward, do you have to have that version of the Harkonnen family in mind when you’re playing one, 10,000 years earlier? DAVIS Yes and no. The 10,000-year gap really helps free you of any sort of attempt to make every single thing line up. But at the same time, there’s tremendous joy in finding little bits of commonality between the characters across the ages. For instance, the first time we meet Harrow, he’s referred to by the emperor as “Baron Harkonnen.” So audiences who have seen the film will go, “Wait, hold on? This is the Baron Harkonnen of this age? It’s so different!” What’s great is that the audience fills in the gap themselves. The actor doesn’t necessarily have to do as much legwork. At the same time, though, there’s a slight kind of similar physicality. I’m not calling myself Austin Butler, but there’s something between Harrow and Feyd-Rautha. Harrow almost feels like his runtish cousin. ADDY One thing that really helped, of course, is the costumes. They were just incredible. It’s largely whale fur and whale skin they’re wearing. It gives you a very distinct feeling, compared to some of the more imperial outfits people are wearing. You can almost smell the fishiness of the Harkonnens just by the look of them. It’s this feeling that the Harkonnen residences are cold, bleak. While you’re in it, you felt like you could smell the whale flesh. DAVIS Sara-Sofie Boussnina (who plays Princess Ynez) developed a lovely habit of pretending I stank like fish anytime I went near her. Edward Davis. HBO Edward, Harrow gets a front row seat to the big centerpiece of the episode. He’s here before the emperor to make this bold claim, only to get outshined by Desmond Hart. DAVIS There’s a really crucial moment where harrow is doing everything by the book. He’s about to explain the rules of Kanly, which is this sort of vendetta rule book in this world. He’s interrupted by the speaker and mocked for being a Harkonnen, basically. It’s sort of this fork in the road where he realizes he’s been set up to do this act. He knows he’s being used as a pawn. And he decides, “No. I’m going to take this for myself.” But then of course, Desmond Hart melts loads of people, and it all goes wrong. But it’s right there. The seeds are planted. It’s a nice window into Harrow’s low self esteem. It takes so much to get ready to accuse the imperial house, and then he doesn’t manage to. And then he’s witnessing this horrible massacre. I think he’d take that personally. He’d take that as a failing of his own. So when he returns home and Evgeny laughs at him? Well, that’s it. He’s done. He’s hit his lowest point. It’s an interesting place to leave him for the rest of the season.  What can you tease about those next steps? DAVIS I can’t say very much. I would just advise audiences not to underestimate Harrow. He may seem like a pathetic Feyd-Rautha, but he is a Harkonnen, after all. Mark, I have an issue with HBO bringing you into these massive epics just to kill you off in the first season. ADDY I have an issue with that! (Laughs) It would be nice to hang around a little bit longer, occasionally! But that’s the great thing with these shows and the terrific characters, even though they’re short-lived. Just by being given the opportunity to bring them to life for a short period of time is exciting enough. It’s our job to make the worlds we live in feel real. Whether it’s Westeros or the Dune universe, we need to make it feel like it’s inhabited by real people. That’s the challenge of the job, and also the joy of it. But can you put in a word with someone about a Robert Baratheon Game of Thrones prequel? ADDY The problem is, if we were going back to when Robert was young and strong, they’re not going to cast me in the part. Come on, Mark Ruffalo’s The Hulk. We have the technology. ADDY I did ask Mark Coulier, who did the prosthetics, “Can you do this the other way around?” And he said, “Well… it’s not quite as successful.” (Laughs) So, I don’t think that’s happening. *** Dune: Prophecy releases new episodes Sundays at 9 p.m. on HBO/Max, streaming on Max.