Dune: Prophecy Actress Says Her Show Isn’t ‘Childish’ Like Star Wars

This fall, Dune: Prophecy will turn back the clock in Frank Herbert’s saga to reveal the events that took place thousands of years before the two Dune films. Emily Watson has a leading role on the series as Valya Harkonnen, one of leaders of the sisterhood that will become the Bene Gesserit. And during a new interview, Watson took a shot at Star Wars while praising her show’s moral complexity.

“It was very exciting, but also very great to go into that world with the security of knowing I’ve got the skill set to make everything feel real,” Watson told Total Film. “It’s a very interesting palette because it’s not childish… it’s not like Star Wars. It has a moral complexity, which is interesting.”

Dune and Star Wars are both science fiction sagas, but they’re rarely linked together. David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation of Dune had the misfortune of following the original Star Wars trilogy to theaters, and audiences weren’t willing to embrace it at that time. Denis Villeneuve’s two-part adaptation of Dune went a long way towards reestablishing the franchise and allowing Dune: Prophecy to take shape on HBO.

Ahead of Dune: Prophecy’s premiere in November, HBO and Max are starting the full court promotional press at next month’s New York Comic Con. In addition to a Dune: Prophecy experience at the Javits Center, Watson and other cast members and creators of the show will be appearing at a panel for the series on Thursday, October 17. There will also be early screenings of Dune: Prophecy at Alamo Drafthouse locations across the country on November 7.