Dune: Prophecy star that previously said "it’s not like Star Wars" clarifies her comments about the upcoming prequel series: "Everything is relative"

Emily Watson as Valya Harkonnen in Dune: Prophecy
(Image credit: HBO)

Dune: Prophecy star Emily Watson is a Star Wars fan, but she doesn't think the upcoming prequel series compares to George Lucas's sci-fi franchise.

"Don’t get me wrong, I love Star Wars. I’m a huge Star Wars fan. But we’re in a universe where there isn’t 'right' anymore. There aren’t goodies and baddies. Everything is relative," Watson tells GamesRadar+ during an exclusive interview at New York City Comic Con. "You and everybody are morally flawed, for some very deeply and some lesser, but moral relativism and compromise and human flaws are very much what drive the story forward."

The actor previously told Total Film that Dune: Prophecy is a "very interesting palette because it’s not childish… it’s not like Star Wars. It has a moral complexity, which is interesting." In the Star Wars universe, good and evil are painted very, very clearly by way of the Imperial Empire vs. the Rebel Alliance, whereas morale is much murkier in Frank Herbert's Dune-iverse.

The series dives into the life of Valya Harkonnen (Watson), Mother Superior of the Sisterhood, who is the most consequential architect of the matriarchal order that will eventually come to be known as the Bene Gesserit. Jessica Barden plays young Valya Harkonnen, with the series taking place over two different timelines. The spin-off show is set 10,000 years before the birth of Paul Atreides.

"We say the show is B.C.: Before Chalamet," Watson jokes.

Dune: Prophecy is set to hit Max on November 17. For more, check out our lists of the best Max shows and the best Max movies to stream right now.

CATEGORIES
Lauren Milici
Senior Writer, Tv & Film

Lauren Milici is a Senior Entertainment Writer for GamesRadar+ currently based in the Midwest. She previously reported on breaking news for The Independent's Indy100 and created TV and film listicles for Ranker. Her work has been published in Fandom, Nerdist, Paste Magazine, Vulture, PopSugar, Fangoria, and more.

Read more
Emily Watson as Valya Harkonnen in Dune: Prophecy
How many episodes are in Dune: Prophecy on Max and NOW?
Sigourney Weaver in The Gorge
Sigourney Weaver was "delighted" to join the Star Wars franchise but says Grogu was the whole reason she signed on for The Mandalorian & Grogu: "He's a little badass"
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor in Andor season 2
Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy says his Star Wars show is trying to be "more serious about this sh*t than anybody ever has been"
Jod Na Nawood holding a lightsaber
A Jedi was cut from the Star Wars Skeleton Crew finale – was she Jod’s former master?
Andor
Star Wars fans are debating the saga's darkest moment, and it's reminding us how messed up the galaxy actually is
Diego Luna in Andor season 2
Andor season 2 showrunner Tony Gilroy calls Cassian “Star Wars Jesus” ahead of the show’s return on Disney Plus
Latest in Sci-Fi Shows
Ezra Bridger in Ahsoka
A Star Wars actor just quietly confirmed that filming has begun on Ahsoka season 2
Doctor Who episode 'Rose'
20 years after Doctor Who returned to our screens, fans are sharing their favorite moments including from comeback episode Rose
Black Mirror season 7
Charlie Brooker promises Black Mirror season 7 is "a bit more OG", having previously said that he didn't want the series to be known as "the 'tech is bad' show" anymore
Kaitlyn Dever as Abby in The Last Of Us season 2
Abby star Kaitlyn Dever played the Last of Us games with her dad and has been a fan "for a very long time"
Bella Ramsey as Ellie and Pedro Pascal as Joel in The Last of Us
The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin praises Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal for "spectacular" take on one of Part 2's most iconic scenes in season 2
Diego Luna in Andor season 2
Andor star Diego Luna urges Star Wars fans to watch Rogue One immediately after season 2 ends: "You're going to see it differently"
Latest in News
Astro Bot
Astro Bot went through 23 pitch iterations before its director promised PlayStation "happy gameplay" and "overflowing charm," though it did once end with robot decapitation that made "some people really upset"
Tomb Raider
5 years after Avengers, 2 years after its last layoffs, and who knows how long before Perfect Dark and Tomb Raider return, Crystal Dynamics announces another round of layoffs
AI Limit
"AI is not as effective as it might appear": Dev of AI-focused Soulslike RPG says they didn't use any AI-generated content and it can't match "genuine creativity"
Fantastic Four: 1234 #2 cover excerpt
Sue Storm and Namor are officially both in Avengers: Doomsday, and fans are wondering if Reed Richards has something to worry about
The First Berserker: Khazan protagonist
The First Berserker: Khazan isn't even out yet, but the new Soulslike RPG already has over 1,300 94% positive reviews on Steam from early buyers
fool me once
Harlan Coben’s new novel is set to be "more of a sequel" to the hit Netflix series Fool Me Once: "I don’t know any time that’s ever happened"