Who’s who in ‘Dune: Prophecy’: Every character you need to know

HBO’s Dune: Prophecy offers us a look at what the world of Dune was like 10,000 years before the rise of Paul Atreides. Naturally, that time jump means we get to meet a whole new cast of characters — a process that can be daunting given Dune: Prophecy‘s intricate sci-fi lore.

But don’t worry! We’ve assembled a handy-dandy character guide to help you navigate the ins and outs of Dune: Prophecy, from the Sisterhood to the Imperial Royal Family. You’ll be an expert in no time.

On Wallach IX: The Sisterhood

Inspired by Brian Herbert (son of Dune author Frank Herbert) and Kevin J. Anderson’s novel Sisterhood of Dune, Dune: Prophecy centers on the early days of the Bene Gesserit order, back when it was known simply as “the Sisterhood.” The series picks up over a century after the Butlerian Jihad, a war against “thinking machines” (aka AI) that led to the banning of all computers.

Several forces rose to fill the void left behind by thinking machines, including the Sisterhood. At their school on the rainy planet Wallach IX, the Sisterhood trains young women to serve the Great Houses as Truthsayers. Their guidance from the shadows bolsters the Sisterhood’s power and creates a growing network of influence across the Imperium. Among those shaping the future of the Sisterhood are:

Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen (Emily Watson): The current leader of the Sisterhood, Valya was a close confidant of the Sisterhood’s founder, Mother Raquella (Cathy Tyson). She hopes to make the Sisterhood an unstoppable force and push the boundaries of what it means to be human.

She also hopes to bring House Harkonnen (yes, of Feyd-Rautha fame) back into the Imperium’s good graces, as they were disgraced following the end of the Butlerian Jihad. The culprits? The pesky members of House Atreides, whose beef with House Harkonnen will endure long past Dune: Prophecy and into Dune.

Reverend Mother Tula Harkonnen (Olivia Williams): Valya’s younger sister. While Tula tends to do her Valya’s bidding, the rise of a new threat to the Sisterhood may force the pair in radically different directions.

Reverend Mother Kasha (Jihae): A close friend of Tula and Valya since their days as acolytes in the Sisterhood, Kasha is also the Truthsayer for Emperor Javicco Corrino (Mark Strong).

Sister Francesca (Tabu): Sister Francesca is another good friend of Tula, Valya, and Kasha’s from their acolyte days. She was once a great love of the Emperor.

On Wallach IX: The acolytes of the Sisterhood

The Reverend Mothers and high-ranking Truthsayers aren’t the only members of the Sisterhood Dune: Prophecy focuses on. You’ll also meet a quarter of acolytes, each negotiating their own relationship to the order they’ve devoted their lives to. They are:

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Sister Theodosia (Jade Anouka): A hard-working acolyte with a lot of potential, Sister Theodosia — or just Theo — aspires to be the best Truthsayer she can, all while hiding a dangerous secret of her own.

Sister Jen (Faoileann Cunningham): Emotionally guarded and somewhat skeptical of the Sisterhood’s teachings, Sister Jen is among the most unpredictable acolytes in the Sisterhood.

Sister Emeline (Aoife Hinds): Raised by anti-technology Butlerians, Sister Emeline is a deeply religious member of the Sisterhood. In some scenes, you can catch her reading the Orange Catholic Bible, a foundational religious text in the Dune world.

Sister Lila (Chloe Lea): Sister Lila is the youngest acolyte in the Sisterhood and was raised in the order. Her deep empathy and kindness could lead her to greatness — or could they lead someone to take advantage of her?

On Salusa Secundus: The Imperial Royal Family

In Dune, Salusa Secundus is the Emperor’s prison planet, where the Sardaukar fighters are trained. (Remember the banger throat-singing scene in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune? That was all on Salusa Secundus.) However, thousands of year prior, it was the homeworld of the Imperial House Corrino, and therefore the seat of the Emperor. This opulent paradise is home to the Imperial Royal Family, which includes:

Emperor Javicco Corrino (Mark Strong): Head of the Imperium, Emperor Javicco hopes to maintain peace in the era following the machine wars. But that’s easier said than done, especially when his grasp on the spice-rich planet of Arrakis is slipping. Don’t worry, Javicco, your descendants will have the exact same problem for millennia.

Empress Natalya Arat Corrino (Jodhi May): With her marriage to Emperor Javicco, Empress Natalya helped unite the Imperium. However, she’d love to contribute further, even as her husband begins to heed her counsel less and less.

Princess Ynez Corrino (Sarah-Sofie Boussnina): Heir to the Golden Lion throne, Princess Ynez is determined to be the best ruler she can be. That means joining up with the Sisterhood. If her training is successful, she’d be the first Sister on the throne. (And you know Valya would love to see that.)

Constantine Corrino (Josh Heuston): Constantine is Emperor Javicco’s illegitimate son. (Jon Snow in space, anyone?) While he’s close with Ynez, he also find himself in the awkward limbo of trying to impress his father or simply living a carefree life of hedonistic bliss.

On Salusa Secundus: The outsiders

The Imperial Royal Family have several intriguing characters hovering in their orbits. They are:

Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel): A charismatic soldier previously stationed on Arrakis, Desmond arrives on Salusa Secundus with troubling news and an even more troubling ability, one that could tip the scales of power across the Imperium. Oh, and he wants to wipe out the Sisterhood for good.

Keiran Atreides (Chris Mason): An Atreides? In Dune? It’s more likely than you think. Keiran Atreides is a Swordmaster for House Corrino who trains closely with Ynez. Very closely.

Mikaela (Shalom Brune-Franklin): A Fremen woman who works in a Salusa Secundus spice den, Mikaela is hiding some secrets of her own.

Dune: Prophecy premieres Nov. 17 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.