[Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Dune: Prophecy Season 1, Episode 1]

Denis Villeneuve‘s cinematic world of Dune could also be a troublesome act to comply with (precede?), however the brand new HBO sequenceDune: Prophecy is greater than holding its personal after Season 1, Episode 1, “The Hidden Hand.” The present has launched us to a world lengthy earlier than Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) — over 10,000 years earlier than, in truth — with highly effective homes vying for energy, and a non secular sect in turmoil.

Along with carrying the legacy of this huge universe, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, who performs Princess Ynez, Josh Heuston, who performs Constantine Corrino, and Chris Mason, who performs Keirnan Atreides, together with their different castmates, are tasked with sharing scenes with display legends like Emma Watson and Olivia Williams. It takes robust performances, devoted stunt coaching, and a ardour for the fabric, and this trio has all of it in spades.

On this interview, Collider’s Perri Nemiroff sits down with Boussnina, Heuston, and Mason to select their brains on creating backstory for these characters, the real-life inspiration they used for the Corrino household, every of their characters’ objectives, and what it was like working reverse their gifted co-stars. You possibly can watch the total dialog within the video above or learn the interview transcript beneath.

Get to Know the Younger Solid of ‘Dune: Prophecy’

The place have you ever seen these faces earlier than …?

PERRI NEMIROFF: I do not wish to suggest that any of you’re new to the enterprise, however being on a Dune present specifically is a very massive deal, and quite a lot of our viewers and readers are first going to get to know you thru this sequence. Is there a previous mission that you simply labored on that you simply discovered coming in helpful whereas making Dune: Prophecy , however then are you able to additionally every inform me an appearing first you skilled making this present?

JOSH HEUSTON: For me, Heartbreak Excessive, which is one other present that I labored on, the throughline between the 2 is seeing that interior baby, and so they’re each scuffling with their upbringing and that kind of factor. I believe connecting with that gave me beginning place between the 2 characters. And an appearing first, I suppose sword combat coaching. All that preventing approach and all of that. I’ve by no means actually accomplished that earlier than and I actually, actually loved studying that.

CHRIS MASON: For me, I do not suppose I’ve accomplished a job like this earlier than. I have been fortunate to have a different profession however I really feel like this function sort of got here on the proper time. I’ve had parts in every character. I’ve typically performed the unhealthy man and I do not see Keiran this fashion. However then an appearing first, I believe the stunt coaching, having the ability to throw your self into that a lot and have the time to arrange. But additionally, turning as much as set and it is the primary time I’ve accomplished scenes with Emily Watson. That’s a fairly good first. And that goes for the remainder of the forged, as properly. Everybody’s so incredible. Day-after-day you flip up with one thing new.

SARAH-SOFIE BOUSSNINA: I do not suppose I’ve performed a personality like Ynez earlier than both. However I am from Scandinavia, so for me, it is considered one of my first massive worldwide initiatives. So, that is an enormous alternative for me. Simply attending to work with all of those those that I like a lot, it is simply been a present.

I really like to listen to that!

One other get-to-know-you query that sort of places you on the spot slightly, however I really like realizing this about individuals. What’s your favourite film of all time?

MASON: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

HEUSTON: Good reply!

I respect that.

BOUSSNINA: Mine is Edward Scissorhands by Tim Burton. I really like Tim Burton, and that movie I can see any day, any time. I simply wish to watch it on a regular basis. I really like that movie a lot.

I am proper there with you.

HEUSTON: Mine’s Lord of the Rings, however I am unable to decide one. I’m gonna have to simply decide all three.

How the Royal Household Impressed the Corrinos

The Dune: Prophecy forged seemed to real-life inspiration for his or her characters’ backstories.

To begin to dig into your characters slightly bit, I am at all times curious to listen to about private backstory work. For every of you, is there any specific element you developed on your personal character that possibly we do not see or hear about within the completed present, however was nonetheless essential to you, and we will now see it informing your efficiency?

HEUSTON: We have spoken about this just a few occasions, however I checked out Prince Harry after which Prince Hal, as properly, to have a look at how that may really feel being in line however then not being in line, and the way that may really feel being second, after which the dynamic between the 2 individuals. I checked out that after which we seemed on the Indian class system, as properly, which helped loads. After which once more, the interior baby kind of factor. I checked out that as a result of Constantine, together with his relationship together with his father, the Emperor Corrino, there are many occasions you see him sort of shut down when he will get in hassle right here and there. And then you definitely see the shift between his personalities, between his father after which with Ynez. There is a very completely different character that involves the display, and for me, that was the primary half.

BOUSSNINA: We had so many conversations about this as a result of it comes with so many various issues, residing the life that our characters dwell. Additionally, they went by one thing traumatic once they have been actually younger, as properly, that undoubtedly formed who they’re after we meet them within the present. There’s this one factor the place we checked out this one scene with Harry and William after their mother died and the way they like needed to placed on that robust face. That is one thing that our characters very a lot need to do on a regular basis as a result of when they’re in formal settings, they need to dwell as much as the function that they are given and so they need to be skilled. So, internally, there are nonetheless so many different issues occurring that you simply then see. For them, they use one another to speak in confidence to and share residing that very secluded, typically lonely life, the place you possibly can’t belief lots of people due to your place in life.

HEUSTON: There’s that facade that goes up and also you see it loads, even in YouTube movies with the reference we’re speaking about. You possibly can see micro feelings and expressions, however they’re attempting to comprise every thing. And I really feel like whether or not or not it’s a marriage scene or, with out giving something away, one other massive, grand factor with a number of individuals watching, you possibly can see that taking place throughout everybody within the royal home. There’s the emotion however then they’re attempting to cowl it, which I discover actually fascinating.

MASON: For Keiran, it was essential for me to discover a differentiation from the royal household and the standing as a result of the Atreides household are usually not fairly there but. Voice was an enormous a part of it for me. I had quite a lot of conversations with Alison [Schapker] about how I can discover a option to make him really feel extra of a person who’s on the road with the true individuals. His interactions with the Fremen and the individuals within the spice den and stuff. What he does and who he’s when he leaves work was an enormous factor for me, of what are his true wishes and morals?

What Is Princess Ynez’s Endgame?

“She desires to deliver energy to her home.”

Sarah-Sofie, I am gonna come again your method as a result of there’s one specific element from Episode 1 that was actually curious to me as a result of I really feel like, as a rule, we see a princess mainly being compelled down a sure path by her dad and mom, and given a specific dialog she has, that does not appear to be the case along with her. What’s her primary need originally of the present, and does she suppose that need, if she will get it, will make her blissful?

BOUSSNINA: That is a very good query. I believe her primary need is that she desires to go research on the Sisterhood as a result of she does wish to dwell as much as her place. She’s proud to be a Corrino. She’s proud to be the inheritor to the Golden Lion Throne, and he or she desires to be the long run ruler someday. That is very a lot how she desires to do issues — her method. And that is one of many explanation why she desires to go there and research — as a result of she seems to be as much as these ladies. They’re highly effective, they’re in management. They’re what she desires to be as the long run ruler.

Will that make her blissful, finally?

BOUSSNINA: I do not know that she thinks about that, to be trustworthy. She desires to be the sort of ruler that she desires about. I believe lots of people can establish with seeing your dad and mom do issues a sure method, and also you wish to do issues a special method. [Laughs] That is very a lot how she feels. She desires to deliver energy to her home, and he or she desires the Corrino household to be a robust and highly effective home, and he or she thinks she will try this. Additionally, she’s advised that by Kasha. She actually feels seen and heard by her saying, within the first episode, “The primary time I noticed you, I knew.” To have somebody say that to you, that lights a hearth in you. She’s like, “I am gonna go and try this!”

Is Constantine Corrino Extra Than an Imperial Playboy?

Josh, I’ve the alternative sort of query for you as a result of somebody in Episode 1 mentions that Constantine is a person with no function. Is that notion simply an outsider’s view or does he, deep down, have a function, and does he understand it?

HEUSTON: Constantine has a want for function. And I believe the place you see him within the early levels of the sequence, he is sort of navigating that. He is nonetheless looking for his toes. He cannot rise to the heights of Ynez, however then he nonetheless has ambitions and he nonetheless desires his father’s approval and desires respect from not simply him, however everybody within the Imperium, as a result of at that stage he has a popularity for being a little bit of a playboy and never having ambition and getting as much as no good. So, for him, he is attempting to aspire to have one thing like that, however he hasn’t but discovered the trail there.

I consider in him.

HEUSTON: I consider in him, too!

I don’t know if I can belief him, however I consider in him.

MASON: Belief nobody.

HEUSTON: [Laughs] Don’t belief anybody.

BOUSSNINA: Can I add one factor? For Ynez, due to what they went by as kids, that has made her wish to be highly effective and in management. That is additionally one of many explanation why she desires to go research on the Sisterhood, so she generally is a robust chief.

Earlier than There Was Paul, There Was Keirnan Atreides, “Swordmaster of the Recognized Universe”

Chris, I am fascinated by the function of Swordmaster. Typically talking, are you able to outline what it means to have that title, after which additionally, what does having that title imply to Keiran particularly?

MASON: Somebody on set as soon as referred to as it Swordmaster of the Recognized Universe, which I assumed sounded fairly cool.

BOUSSNINA: That does sound actually cool! [Laughs]

MASON: So far as troopers go and sword fight, he is the head, and the place that comes with that’s to be the emperor’s private swordmaster attributed with coaching the household and in addition going to warfare when that arises, and preventing for the household, too. So, it is a fairly large title that he is acquired, however one which he is greater than able to coping with.

What does it imply to him to have earned that title?

MASON: It means loads. I do not suppose it was a shock to him. I believe he is aware of his skills and from a younger age he is skilled to get to that time, and I do not suppose any of that is shocking to him.

I really like speaking concerning the worth of scene companion, and along with the three of you, you’re surrounded by many extra. Are you able to every give me an instance of a time on set when a scene companion gave you simply what you wanted, and it teed you up for achievement with your personal work?

BOUSSNINA: My first day I used to be so nervous and intimidated as a result of I used to be doing a scene with Emily, who I’ve at all times adored. I imply, she’s Emily Watson. And I simply keep in mind being so nervous, solely to get there and notice that there is a purpose why she’s the very best at what she does as a result of she brings it. She’s extremely gifted, however she additionally elevates everybody that is there along with her and makes everybody deliver their A-game, and which means a lot coming in not that have and attending to work with somebody like her. And on prime of that, she’s simply such a lovely individual and creates such a cushty surroundings the place we really feel protected. I did not know what to anticipate, however I simply adore her a lot.

MASON: There’s not a nasty egg within the forged, which is uncommon on this enterprise. Turning as much as set each day and having the ability to work with nice individuals is superb. I decide Sarah-Sofie because the scene companion as a result of we now have quite a lot of good scenes collectively. The quantity of occasions I might flip as much as set and we would have a good suggestion the scene, however then watching her work and watching her drive the scene made my job really easy as a result of my reactions have been so pure to what she was bringing.

HEUSTON: Mine can be Emily, as properly. It was the primary day of capturing and the primary scene being shot and it was Emily and I, and I used to be like, “That is insane.” So, the place you wait earlier than you go on set, I used to be pacing and simply saying my traces to myself [laughs], and he or she comes over and he or she’s like, “Oh, hey, the way you doing?” And I used to be like, “Yeah, good.” Anyway, she comes again, like, two minutes later with a tennis ball. So, earlier than strolling on the set, we have been simply taking part in handball and it removed all my nerves. And every time we hit the ball, we would say the road to one another, and it sort of simply removed all of that.

MASON; It is an important scene, too.

HEUSTON: Yeah! It’s the primary scene that you simply see in Episode 1 of Constantine and Valya collectively. It’s that scene.

BOUSSNINA: Josh truly got here the primary day of me filming to look at me as a result of I used to be nervous. You got here and also you have been like, “I am gonna root for you!” And it was simply so good, strolling from the tent to the set.

Do not Mess With Princess Ynez’s Crown

“Nothing and nobody can stand in the way in which of my plan.”

I promised I might spoil that individual scene on the finish of Episode 1. In that scene on the ceremony, you undergo such a spread of the way of coping with Pruitt. You are playful, you are protecting, and then you definitely name him slightly shit, in fact. What was it like mapping all of that out, and in addition how does that talk to the vary of issues she’s able to?

BOUSSNINA: That speaks a lot to the vary and the edges of Ynez. It is simply as you stated — she’s so advanced. There are such a lot of sides to her. On the finish of that scene, when she’s telling him off, is considered one of my favourite moments as a result of that is the primary time we see this aspect to her in Episode 1. It simply exhibits us how she’s saying it how it’s and mainly saying, “Nothing and nobody can stand in the way in which of my plan. I can play the half till a sure level.”

The truth that it goes from her fulfilling her duties because the inheritor, however nonetheless getting engaged to a nine-year-old baby, it is apparent by now that there is not any romantic chemistry between her and Pruitt. This can be a political alliance between two nice homes, and so they’re there on show, taking part in their components, but in addition she’s sort of ready for it to be over, proper? She’s being good to him and playful in it when he is twiddling with one thing and realizing that he introduced in a Considering Machine to the palace, and the shock of that, and in addition the realizing that, “Okay, every thing I’ve deliberate may doubtlessly be thrown out of the window now by this little shit.” [Laughs]

MASON: She factors at me when she says that. She may have picked Josh, however no.

BOUSSNINA: [Laughs] No! However then when she’s shielding him and not likely defending him, she’s defending going to the Sisterhood. Then, after the entire standoff, being like, “That is an excessive amount of,” getting out, after which being like, “You are not doing that ever once more.”

Dune: Prophecy is on the market to stream on HBO Max. Test again with Collider for extra interviews with the forged as new episodes drop on Sundays.

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