10,000 years before the events of Villeneuve’s movies. The HBO show explores the intense political landscape that was taking place long before the rise of Paul Atreides, largely focusing on the Harkonnen sisters Valya and Tula and the struggles of the Corrino family to maintain power. The series features a star-studded cast, with talent like Chernobyl’s Emily Watson, The Crown’s Olivia Williams, The Witcher’s Jodhi May, and Vikings’ Travis Fimmel.

The show also features executive producer Jordan Goldberg, who boasts an impressive creative history, previously working on projects like Westworld and Interstellar. Fimmel plays Desmond Hart, a soldier who aims to align himself with the Corrinos at the expense of the Sisterhood. Much of the show aims to explore the origins of the long-time feud between House Atreides and House Corrino, and the initial betrayals that led to years of conflict.

ScreenRant interviewed Travis Fimmel and Jordan Goldberg to discuss the intense political games played between Desmond and Valya, exciting reveals coming this season, and plans for Dune: Prophecy's future.

Dune: Prophecy Is A “Huge Mental Battle” For Desmond & Valya

The Struggles That Come With Two People Firm In Their Convictions

Screen Rant: Jordan, how does Dune: Prophecy expand on the allure of the ongoing feud between the Atreides and the Harkonnens?

Jordan Goldberg: The platform to do that is seeing it through young Valya's eyes and young Tula's eyes. And you start to realize that personal grievances and maybe sometimes miscommunications and real tragedies can snowball into really, really huge interstellar feuds.

Travis, you are incredible as Desmond Hart in this show, man. I would be terribly nervous to have you at my side. Could you elaborate on the dynamic between Desmond Hart and Valya, and what it was like working alongside Emily Watson?

Travis Fimmel: Mate, it's a privilege to work next to Emily. She's such a talented lady; such a professional. What I love and what attracted me to the scripts and the show was the huge chess game; this big riddle piece that you're trying to work out, and Emily's character is such a worthy adversary.

We both feel very justified in what we're trying to achieve and the goals that we set. We feel like we're doing the right thing, and when two people believe in what they're doing so strongly and then have to fight about it? It makes the fight very intense and just makes for a huge mental battle.

Jordan, what inspired the decision to incorporate multiple timelines for the Harkonnen sisters, and did you look to shows like House of the Dragon for guidance on handling multiple timelines effectively?

Jordan Goldberg: The books that we're sort of adapting, The Sisterhood of Dune and The Schools of Dune, had some really interesting stories about the beginnings of the Sisterhood. But it was fun to see it once it was on its feet under the guidance of Valya Harkonnen, and it felt like advancing the story into that present allowed a lot of potential to tell what the Sisterhood was doing once they were fully in power. Also, it allows us to see the Corrino family and how the Imperial family is ruling the Imperium.

The show's trailer hinted at some amazing powers. Travis, could you talk about any of the powers Desmond will showcase, and how said powers will affect his actions and loyalties?

Travis Fimmel: Yeah, he's gifted with a pretty handy power. I love that it's a mental power. It can really, without any physicality, hurt people emotionally and physically. It's a great power to have. Wouldn't it be [fun] just sitting here and f--king someone up? I mean, without having to go to the gym.

Jordan, can you discuss how the portrayal of the Corrinos in the show compares to their depictions in the movies, and if we'll see seeds planted for characters like Shaddam?

Jordan Goldberg: That's way, way out in the future, so probably not yet. The Corrinos are only a hundred years into their rules, so they're still kind of fresh. Javicco's father Roderick was a very strong leader, but he is not so much. He's trying to figure out how to do it; he is trying to find that confidence, that thing. He's been led by the Sisterhood all along, but he feels the need to shore up his power, and luckily something comes into the fray that allows him to do that. And that kind of a situation when you are susceptible causes very dangerous scenarios.

Goldberg Teases “Massive Surprises” Coming In Dune: Prophecy Season 1

Major Fights, Sandworms, & More In The Dune Series

Travis, are there any major fight sequences you’re excited for, or connections Desmond has to other major characters in the Dune universe you can tease for us?

Travis Fimmel: There's some big battles at the end. It's more the young people that are fit and athletic who do the fighting. I get in verbal arguments.

The main one is the Sisterhood, and he wouldn't care if there's anybody else in the room. His whole goal, and his whole problem, is with the Sisterhood. Everybody else is a pawn in the game, I think. To my character, anyway.

Jordan, with previous statements about extensive future plans, do you envision incorporating time jumps between seasons? How might that shape the storyline?

Jordan Goldberg: We'll see. Listen, if we get the honor and privilege to keep telling stories, we'll see. I think that when you get to episode 6, you'll some massive surprises there. I think the answering the questions that are asked at the end of the season will be enough to kind of tell a story in itself, so we'll see.

Jordan, what aspects of the Bene Gesserit and their origin do you think will surprise or excite fans most? Why should movie watchers, for example, tune into the show for a more complete picture?

Jordan Goldberg: To me, it's hard to say that nothing in Dune happens without the Bene Gesserit. Any chance you get to go back and look at how they started, how they operate in the beginning, and how they're going to operate 10,000 years from now is kind of a fascinating opportunity.

To your other question, what I really like is how the voice is developed by Valya Harkonnen. That's a very fun anecdote or storyline that the series puts forward. That's kind of a cool thing. I also like the idea that at the helm of this chapter of the Sisterhood is a Harkonnen. What does that mean?

Travis, who does Desmond think should run the Imperium? By that token, why is he so afraid of the power the Sisterhood represents?

Travis Fimmel: He wants the Emperor to work out, and he tries to try to build him up and give him strengths to do it. He wants to be part of it, but I'm sure he'd be happy to run it at some stage if he got the opportunity. He's got some very deep issues with the Sisterhood that you'll find out later on, but he hates them with a ion and blames them for a lot of wrongdoing in the world.

More About Dune: Prophecy Season 1

From the expansive universe of Dune, created by acclaimed author Frank Herbert, and 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, DUNE: PROPHECY follows two Harkonnen sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit. DUNE: PROPHECY is inspired by the novel SISTERHOOD OF DUNE, written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.

Check out our other Dune: Prophecy interviews here:

• Emily Watson & Olivia Williams
• Alison Schapker
• Mark Strong & Jodhi May
• Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Josh Heuston, & Chris Mason

Dune: Prophecy premieres November 17 at 9pm EST on HBO.

Source: Screen Rant Plus