Valya Harkonnen shapes the future of the Dune universe – here’s the lowdown on Emily Watson’s character, and how she connects to Paul Atreides
After Paul Atreides’ rise in Dune: Part Two, the first TV series in the franchise takes us back over ten thousand years, following the inner workings of one of the most secretive yet powerful organisations in the universe: the Bene Gesserit.
The driving character of Dune: Prophecy is Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen, who made a terrifying and formidable first appearance in episode one of the series – played by British acting royalty, Emily Watson.
If you want to know more about who Valya is and how she connects with the villains of Dune and Dune: Part Two, we have all the information you need. Note that this piece will be focusing on the TV series and movies, rather than the original Frank Herbert books, which have slightly different details. What has Dune: Prophecy revealed about Valya Harkonnen so far?
The opening scene of Dune: Propechy tells us that Valya’s great-grandfather deserted the fight against the thinking machines, and an Atredis led them to victory. Her family were branded as cowards and banished to a desolate world. Bitter about how her lineage was viewed, Valya vows to rewrite her name.
Valya was chosen by the first-ever Mother Superior, Raquella Berto-Anirul, to lead the Bene Gesserit to their true destiny: to breed a new leader on the throne, the first Empress, using genetic archives that could be controlled by the Sisterhood to ensure the group’s protection.