Dune: Prophecy,the new HBO series set in the world initially created by Frank Herbert, begins by introducing viewers to Valya and Tula Harkonnen as confident, composed adults in positions of power within the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood. In later episodes in the show’s first season - particularly Episode 3, “Sisterhood Above All,“Dune: Prophecyviewers then get to see a younger version of Valya and Tula in flashback, showing how the pair became who they are by the time of the show’s setting.
This decision is an effective one, as it emphasizes the theme of individuality vs. sisterhood that is so key toDune: Prophecy.Game Rant recently spoke with members of theDune: Prophecycast about how this story is told and how these themes developed throughout their history.
Young Valya And Young Tula Both Ultimately Choose Sisterhood
Valya and Tula in the present day, portrayed by Emily Watson and Olivia Williams, are fully dedicated tothe Bene Gesserit Sisterhood. They scheme to induct Princess Ynez Corrino, the Empire’s future ruler, into their ranks. They place truth-sayers with key families while spurning others, and Valya, as the Mother Superior, secretly works towards Sisterhood founder Raquella Berto-Anirul’s breeding program designed to create theKwisatz Haderach.
Young Valya, played by Jessica Barden, ultimately chooses to undergo Sisterhood training, putting aside her previous goal of restoring House Harkonnen’s honor. Young Tula, played by Emma Canning, romances and then kills the young warrior Orry Atreides in a tragic love story that Canning describes as a “short film” focused on “primal” emotions. After that, she joins the Sisterhood at Valya’s side. The actresses for the younger and older versions of the sisters worked together to emphasize how the choices Valya and Tula made in “Sisterhood Above All” go on to shape their entire lives.
The Four Actresses Worked Closely Together To Tell Their Stories
Emma Canning, who playsYoung Tula, described working closely with Olivia Williams to develop their shared character. For Canning, who would need to imitate Williams' accent and way of speaking, the preparation began before she even stepped on set. “I listened to podcasts of past interviews of hers,” Canning explained, then laughed and admitted: “I never told [Williams] that I’d been listening to her.” She focused on the “intonation” and “warmth” Williams used in creating the older Tula and reflected it as the character’s younger self.
Canning also found working closely with Williams valuable when it came to understanding Tula’s role as the younger sister and her devotion to her older sister Valya and deceased older brother Griffin. She said,
“We were talking about family dynamics. Honestly, the biggest takeaway, which was utterly happenstance, was that Olivia is the youngest in her family, whereas I’m the eldest. It’s a very different dynamic, so she was just really useful to talk to…It was such a part of Tula’s storyline, being the youngest child and not having much space to occupy, because she has these two very outspoken, very colorful, and exuberant older siblings.”
There Is A Powerful Synergy In The Actors' Portrayals
Emily Watson and Olivia Williams agreed with Canning, emphasizing how much they enjoyed working with the actresses who played youngValya and Tula. “They came in after we’d been cast,” Williams explained, “so they were sort of impersonating us as their later selves…and then we could draw on what they did to inform us as the grown characters.” Williams felt that the relationship she and Canning ultimately developed was “symbiotic” in a powerful way.
Watson agreed. “Whenever you play a character, you always look back into their childhood and what has formed them, what has made them what they want,” she said, discussingValya’s conflict between her personal identityand her dedication to the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood’s goals. She also added,
“To actually have that played out on screen by two incredible young actresses, it’s really quite a privilege, isn’t it?”
