Rebecca Ferguson's Lady Jessica In Denis Villeneuve's Dune 2 Somehow Looks Even Better Now
WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Dune: Prophecy & Dune: Part Two.
Dune: Prophecy proves just how well-done Rebecca Ferguson's Lady Jessica character is in Denis Villeneuve's Dune and Dune: Part Two. Dune: Prophecy is a six-part series based on the 2012 novel Sisterhood of Dune, which was written by original Dune author Frank Herbert's son, Brian, and Kevin J. Anderson. The story takes place more than 10,000 years before the rise of Paul Atreidies, which is chronicled in Villeneuve's Dune (2020) and Dune: Part Two (2024).
While there was some initial speculation that Lady Jessica would be a part of Dune: Prophecy, the massive timeline jump didn't allow for that to happen. Instead, Emily Watson leads the cast of Dune: Prophecy as Mother Reverend Superior Valya Harkonnen along with Olivia Williams as her sister, Tula Harkonnen. Valya is the overseer of the Sisterhood known as the Bene Gesserit in the world of Dune and is an ancient ancestor of Jessica.
Rebecca Ferguson's Lady Jessica Is The Most Fascinating Character In The Dune Movies
Jessica's intrigue and transformation is a highlight of the two films
Ferguson's Lady Jessica was the most compelling character in the two recent Dune films, mostly because of her mysterious Bene Gesserit background. While Dune and Dune: Part Two are very much about Paul Atreides, Lady Jessica and the Bene Gesserit are the most significant, and powerful, characters in the entire story. Jessica's transformation into the Mother Reverend of the Fremen on Arrakis in Dune: Part Two also made her character arc all the more fascinating.
In the first Dune film, Lady Jessica was the only accessible window into the Bene Gesserit after the introduction of Reverend Mother Mohiam. At this point, her main concern was to protect and train her son, Paul, but she eventually discovered her greater purpose in the second film, which brought about a total transformation after she underwent The Agony. While this wasn't the main focus of the films, Lady Jessica is captivating throughout because she possesses a dangerous mystique about her.
Dune: Prophecy's Bene Gesserit Make Lady Jessica Even More Impressive
Ferguson brilliantly established the cinematic face of the Bene Gesserit
Dune: Prophecy, on the other hand, features several prominent members of the Sisterhood and even more who are in training. The show, however, has a lot of problems with its depiction of the Sisterhood and with its overall handling of the source material. It's safe to say that none of the Bene Gesserit in Dune: Prophecy even come close to Lady Jessica in terms of intrigue, character depth, or arc. If anything, Dune: Prophecy makes the Bene Gesserit less interesting by explaining them too much and dissolving the sense of mystery around them that Lady Jessica did so well in the Dune films.
Dune: Prophecy
- Release Date
- November 17, 2024
- Showrunner
- Alison Schapker
- Directors
- Anna Foerster
- Writers
- Diane Ademu-John, Kevin J. Anderson, Brian Herbert, Frank Herbert
- Franchise(s)
- Dune
Cast
Emily WatsonMother Superior Valya Harkonnen
Reverend Mother Tula Harkonnen
Set in the universe of Frank Herbert's Dune series, Dune: Prophecy, a sci-fi epic, follows the political and spiritual struggles on the desert planet of Arrakis. As factions vie for control of the prized spice melange, a prophesied hero emerges, challenging the balance of power and the fate of the galaxy.
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
- Creator(s)
- Diane Ademu-John, Alison Schapker
- Seasons
- 1
- Streaming Service(s)
- MAX
Your comment has not been saved