Prophecy’ Showrunner Addresses ‘Game of Thrones’ Comparisons

It’s a very easy thing to do: to call an epic, fantastical drama series “Game of Thrones in [BLANK].” Especially if the show is on HBO, the home of the aforementioned George R.R. Martin adaptation. But rather than be mad about it, the Dune: Prophecy showrunner Alison Schapker totally understands the impulse to call her show “Game of Thrones in space!” In fact, she takes it as a compliment.

“Game of Thrones was an amazing show to watch,” Schapker explained in a recent interview with The Wrap. “It’s a tremendous compliment to be compared to it in any way. So I take that as nothing more than, ‘Oh wow, we’re playing in the big leagues.'”

“It may be a very apt comparison. On the other hand, I do think there’s a lot of aspects to Dune that are specific to Dune,” she added. “I hope that when we get beyond just the sense that who’s on the throne matters – which it does – that there’s other aspects that’ll start to differentiate. The ‘in space’ part should get to be more rounded out for people.”

What Is ‘Dune: Prophecy’ About?

The series has been a divisive one for the critics who’ve already reviewed it — it is currently sitting with a 71% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It tells the tale of the Sisterhood that ultimately evolved into the Bene Gesserit in the 10,000 years before the birth of Paul Atreides (the hero of the Dune films).

Based on a book called Dune: Sisterhood (and the two other subsequent novels that make up this particular trilogy set in the Dune universe), the events of Dune: Prophecy take place “83 years after the last thinking machines were destroyed in the Battle of Corrin,” when many of the great and noble houses in the galaxy are at war with one another in the establishment of a new Imperium.

At the heart of this story are Valya Harkonnen (Emily Watson) and her sister Tula Harkonnen (Olivia Williams), high-ranking members of the Bene Gesserit whose family lineage ultimately devolves into the monstrous villains with whom fans of Dune are intimately familiar. And it is that journey that Schapker finds so meaty and interesting.

“We’re very much rooted in the Harkonnen sisters,” she explained, “but we are not only rooted in them, we’re really trying to create a world around them that’s very alive with characters you’re going to care about. Everyone on the board should have a way in for somebody to root for, to empathize with, to feel bad, to think is controversial in some way. I just think that TV gives you more time to do that.”

She went on to add that, “I think that to see the bald, sort of monstrous Harkonnens of the future start from a place of, let’s at least say, solid gray area — to just see how that begins to form, I think makes the heart, and it’s more interesting in the future.”

Dune: Prophecy premieres on HBO on Sunday, November17, at 9:00 PM on HBO and MAX.