Dune: Prophecy stars Mark Addy and Edward Davis tell us about playing the rulers of House Harkonnen

As a seasoned journalist with years of experience under my belt, I must say that interviewing Mark Addy and Edward Davis was nothing short of extraordinary. Their insights into their characters and the intricate world of Dune: Prophecy were captivating.

In the recently aired episode of “Dune: Prophecy,” titled “Twice Born,” we delved deeper into the intricacies of the Harkonnen clan. Previously, we’ve spent considerable time with Valya (Emily Watson) and Tula Harkonnen (Olivia Williams), who joined the Bene Gesserit sisterhood as sisters. However, our focus has now expanded to include their great-uncle Evgeny Harkonnen, a gruff old man portrayed by “Game of Thrones” alum Mark Addy, and their nephew Harrow (Edward Davis), the current leader of House Harkonnen who aspires to elevate its status.

In the story “Twice Born,” Harrow is presented with an opportunity when Aunt Valya arranges for him to join the Landsraad, the council of powerful houses. While she has her motives, Harrow chooses to pursue his aspirations and comply with her, disregarding Evgeny’s stern warnings; Evgeny has never been able to forgive Valya for an event in their past where her brother Griffin (Earl Cave) followed her advice and ultimately perished. The animosity between them is evident by the end of the episode.

In Valya’s counsel to Harrow, there was a slight miscalculation, as the gathering at the Landsraad took an unexpected turn. Here, we had the opportunity to chat with both Mark Addy and Edward Davis about their experiences on the series. Dive into our exclusive interview below!

WinterIsComing: How do both of you guys get involved in Dune: Prophecy?

As a movie enthusiast, let me share my experience. Initially, during filming, I delved quite deeply into my character, perhaps too close for comfort. Shortly after, I received an astounding call, a moment that was nothing short of incredible. You see, I was already familiar with the original films, so I grasped the ambiance instantly. However, it took me several weeks to fully comprehend the significance of landing this role. Now, I believe I’m just beginning to grasp its true meaning.

Mark Addy shares that he received a call from showrunner Alison Schapker prior to the start of filming his character. Alison explained the entire history of the Harkonnens and what motivates Evgeny, which Addy found intriguing. Although he hadn’t read the books, he had seen the movies and knew about their future state. However, he was excited to explore with the audience an aspect of their origins, showing a glimpse of what they might have been like in their earlier, more human days, as opposed to what they become in 10,000 years. He found this exploration a fascinating challenge.

Mark: “Absolutely. I can’t remember, it does have a name, the floating chair.”

Edward: “There’s some dude who invented them. Holtzman.”

Mark: “Indeed, using that device presented its own challenges. It had small motors, causing it to move on its own, and it was managed mostly by a PlayStation controller. There was someone who would navigate me around the set, making it enjoyable for a less active actor. However, aligning it in the correct position at the right moment wasn’t always precise.

Edward muses, “Within their apartment, it’s clear that Evgeny reigns supreme, and Harrow follows his orders without question, even extending to the Imperium. However, I believe Harrow has his own self-perception, and he primarily acts for himself. So, when Valya presents him with chances to elevate his status, he seizes them. For years, Harrow may have harbored resentment towards being Evgeny’s constant caretaker. Therefore, any chance to break free from that role is crucial.

Mark:: “Harrow seems to be our best choice now that Griffin is gone. Griffin was considered the crown jewel of the Harkonnen family, and he was expected to guide us back to our rightful position. I don’t believe Evgeny ever thought Harrow would step into Griffin’s shoes. I doubt he had faith that Harrow could come close to what amazing things Griffin could accomplish.

Mark: “I don’t view him as a villain; instead, he holds Valya accountable for Griffin’s demise. Tula seems to be inconsequential to him, and that’s just who Tula is. She can perform equally reprehensible actions, but due to her methods, she often escapes notice. On the other hand, Valya’s outspoken and confrontational nature makes her a target. Could Evgeny and Valya share similar personalities? I mean, they’re bound to clash from time to time.

Edward: “By Episode 4, he’s hit rock bottom and regrets deeply what he’s done. He calls it a foolish act. I don’t believe he blames Valya for this, as it was his choice. But yes, things went disastrously wrong…I suspect he’d lay the blame on himself. Not for Desmond, but for not speaking ‘Corrino’ sooner.

Additionally, his situation was already embarrassing prior, as the speaker ridiculed him for being a Harkonnen while attempting to sell whale fur at court. This likely left him seething and feeling trapped, which sets the stage for his actions in subsequent episodes. It’s intriguing for viewers to observe his predicament initially and then watch where he ends up.

Mark: “I find it impressive. The sets in Budapest are enormous and they feel more like movie sets than TV series ones. Clearly, a lot of thought, care, and effort has been put into the design of these sets and costumes. All that work makes it easier for actors to immerse themselves in the world created by the set designers. It’s as large-scale as any project I’ve worked on so far.

Edward: “Absolutely, and let me tell you, working on those massive group scenes, like the Landsraad, really highlighted the level of detail involved. You see, even the supporting artists’ costumes were just as elaborate as ours, and they would only be visible for a few seconds, if at all… As Mark pointed out, the sets themselves were mostly real, with some VFX enhancements. Being physically there made it easier for us to convey that grandeur. It was truly awe-inspiring, and I can still remember the moment I first stepped into the throne room set – it literally took my breath away.

Appreciate the chat with Mark Addy and Edward Davis a lot! Don’t forget to tune in for new episodes of “Dune: Prophecy” every Sunday, only on HBO and Max.

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2024-12-11 00:41