‘Dune: Prophecy’s Princess Inez – “No One Can Stand within the Method of [Her] Plan”

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

The Massive Image

• Collider’s Perri Nemiroff talks with
  Dune: Prophecy
  stars Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Josh Heuston & Chris Mason.
• The trio performs Princess Ynez, Constantine Corrino, and Swordmaster Keirnan Atreides within the present.
• Throughout this interview, they talk about the real-life inspiration for his or her characters’ backstories, working with display legends, and Episode 1 spoilers.

Denis Villeneuve‘s cinematic world of Dune could also be a tricky act to observe (precede?), however the new HBO seriesDune: 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, the truth is — with highly effective homes vying for energy, and a non secular sect in turmoil.

Along with carrying the legacy of this vast universe, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, who performs Princess Ynez, Josh Heuston, who performs Constantine Corrino, and Chris Mason, who performs Keirnan Atreides, together with their other 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’ targets, 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 under.

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

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

PERRI NEMIROFF: I do not need to suggest that any of you’re new to the enterprise, however being on a Dune present particularly is a extremely massive deal, and a variety of our viewers and readers are first going to get to know you thru this collection. Is there a previous venture that you just labored on that you just discovered coming in useful whereas making Dune: Prophecy , however then are you able to additionally every inform me an performing 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 little one, and so they’re each fighting their upbringing and that kind of factor. I believe connecting with that gave me a great beginning place between the 2 characters. And an performing first, I suppose sword struggle coaching. All that preventing approach and all of that. I’ve by no means actually carried out that earlier than and I actually, actually loved studying that.

CHRIS MASON: For me, I do not assume I’ve carried out a job like this earlier than. I have been fortunate to have a assorted profession however I really feel like this function type of got here on the proper time. I’ve had components in every character. I’ve usually performed the dangerous man and I do not see Keiran this fashion. However then an performing first, I believe the stunt coaching, with the ability to throw your self into that a lot and have the time to arrange. But in addition, turning as much as set and it is the primary time I’ve carried out scenes with Emily Watson. That’s a fairly good first. And that goes for the remainder of the solid, as nicely. Everybody’s so incredible. On daily basis you flip up with one thing new.

SARAH-SOFIE BOUSSNINA: I do not assume 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 who I love a lot, it is simply been a present.

I really like to listen to that!

One other get-to-know-you query that type of places you on the spot a bit, 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 need 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 can not choose one. I’m gonna have to only choose all three.

How the Royal Household Impressed the Corrinos

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

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

HEUSTON: We have spoken about this a number of occasions, however I checked out Prince Harry after which Prince Hal, as nicely, to take a look at how that might really feel being in line however then not being in line, and the way that might really feel being second, after which the dynamic between the 2 individuals. I checked out that after which we regarded on the Indian class system, as nicely, which helped rather a lot. After which once more, the interior little one kind of factor. I checked out that as a result of Constantine, along with his relationship along with his father, the Emperor Corrino, there are many occasions you see him type 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 totally different character that involves the display, and for me, that was the principle 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 stay. Additionally, they went by way of one thing traumatic after they have been actually younger, as nicely, that positively formed who they’re once 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 must do on a regular basis as a result of when they’re in formal settings, they must stay as much as the function that they are given and so they must be skilled. So, internally, there are nonetheless so many different issues occurring that you just then see. For them, they use one another to open up to and share residing that very secluded, generally 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 rather a lot, even in YouTube movies with the reference we’re speaking about. You possibly can see micro feelings and expressions, however they’re making an attempt to include every little thing. And I really feel like whether or not it’s a marriage scene or, with out giving something away, one other massive, grand factor with numerous individuals watching, you possibly can see that occuring throughout everybody within the royal home. There’s the emotion however then they’re making an attempt to cowl it, which I discover actually attention-grabbing.

MASON: For Keiran, it was necessary for me to discover a differentiation from the royal household and the standing as a result of the Atreides household aren’t fairly there but. Voice was an enormous a part of it for me. I had a variety of conversations with Alison [Schapker] about how I can discover a approach to make him really feel extra of a person who’s on the road with the actual 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 needs and morals?

What Is Princess Ynez’s Endgame?

“She needs to convey energy to her home.”

Sarah-Sofie, I am gonna come again your manner as a result of there’s one explicit element from Episode 1 that was actually curious to me as a result of I really feel like, most of the time, we see a princess principally being pressured down a sure path by her mother and father, and given a selected dialog she has, that does not appear to be the case along with her. What’s her primary need at first of the present, and does she assume that need, if she will get it, will make her comfortable?

BOUSSNINA: That is a extremely good query. I believe her primary need is that she needs to go examine on the Sisterhood as a result of she does need to stay 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 needs to be the longer term ruler someday. That is very a lot how she needs to do issues — her manner. And that is one of many the explanation why she needs to go there and examine — as a result of she seems to be as much as these girls. They’re highly effective, they’re in management. They’re what she needs to be as the longer term ruler.

Will that make her comfortable, in the end?

BOUSSNINA: I do not know that she thinks about that, to be sincere. She needs to be the type of ruler that she goals about. I believe lots of people can determine with seeing your mother and father do issues a sure manner, and also you need to do issues a special manner. [Laughs] That is very a lot how she feels. She needs to convey energy to her home, and he or she needs the Corrino household to be a powerful and highly effective home, and he or she thinks she will do this. Additionally, she’s informed 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 fireplace in you. She’s like, “I am gonna go and do 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 objective. Is that notion simply an outsider’s view or does he, deep down, have a objective, and does he realize it?

HEUSTON: Constantine has a want for objective. And I believe the place you see him within the early levels of the collection, he is type 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 needs 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 fame for being a little bit of a playboy and never having ambition and getting as much as no good. So, for him, he is making an attempt to aspire to have one thing like that, however he hasn’t but discovered the trail there.

I imagine in him.

HEUSTON: I imagine in him, too!

I don’t know if I can belief him, however I imagine 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 way of as kids, that has made her need to be highly effective and in management. That is additionally one of many the explanation why she needs to go examine on the Sisterhood, so she could be a robust chief.

Earlier than There Was Paul, There Was Keirnan Atreides, “Swordmaster of the Identified 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 known as it Swordmaster of the Identified Universe, which I believed sounded fairly cool.

BOUSSNINA: That does sound actually cool! [Laughs]

MASON: So far as troopers go and sword fight, he is the top, and the place that comes with that’s to be the emperor’s private swordmaster attributed with coaching the household and likewise going to struggle when that arises, and preventing for the household, too. So, it is a reasonably large title that he is bought, 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 rather a lot. I do not assume it was a shock to him. I believe he is aware of his abilities and from a younger age he is educated to get to that time, and I do not assume any of that is shocking to him.

I really like speaking concerning the worth of a great scene associate, 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 associate gave you simply what you wanted, and it teed you up for fulfillment 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 all the time adored. I imply, she’s Emily Watson. And I simply bear in mind being so nervous, solely to get there and notice that there is a cause 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 convey 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 an attractive particular person and creates such a cushty setting 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 foul egg within the solid, which is uncommon on this enterprise. Turning as much as set day-after-day and with the ability to work with nice individuals is wonderful. I choose Sarah-Sofie because the scene associate as a result of we’ve a variety of good scenes collectively. The quantity of occasions I might flip as much as set and we might 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 nicely. 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 might say the road to one another, and it type of simply removed all of that.

MASON; It is an ideal scene, too.

HEUSTON: Yeah! It’s the primary scene that you just 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 observe 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 would spoil that specific 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 a bit shit, after all. What was it like mapping all of that out, and likewise how does that talk to the vary of issues she’s able to?

BOUSSNINA: That speaks a lot to the vary and the perimeters of Ynez. It is simply as you mentioned — she’s so complicated. 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 facet to her in Episode 1. It simply reveals us how she’s saying it how it’s and principally 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 little one, it is apparent by now that there isn’t any romantic chemistry between her and Pruitt. It is a political alliance between two nice homes, and so they’re there on show, taking part in their components, but additionally she’s type 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 likewise the realizing that, “Okay, every little thing I’ve deliberate might doubtlessly be thrown out of the window now by this little shit.” [Laughs]

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

BOUSSNINA: [Laughs] No! However then when she’s shielding him and probably not 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 accessible to stream on HBO Max. Test again with Collider for extra interviews with the solid as new episodes drop on Sundays.

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