Tabu joins 'Dune: Prophecy' as sister Francesca in a diverse and gripping prequel to 'Dune'

The much-awaited series 'Dune: Prophecy' premiered on JioCinema on Monday, 23 December. It has been an exciting expansion of the universe called 'Dune' . Being the prequel to the cult film 'Dune', it deals with complex world-building that happened before Paul Atreides led his rebellion. With Emily Watson in a meaty role, the buzz surrounding it is already strong due to its gripping narrative and a versatile ensemble.

Alison Schapker is the showrunner for the virtual interaction and has recently discussed the casting decisions made for 'Dune: Prophecy', especially with Bollywood legend Tabu being cast as Sister Francesca. According to Schapker, “Well, I just think the Imperium represents a global world. It's an Interstellar world. It's different. But the sisterhood recruits from planets all over the Imperium. It made sense for our cast to reflect that diversity. Casting Sister Francesca, especially bringing in a character this late in the series, was a challenge. We needed someone who could claim their space, light up the screen, and immediately become an integral part of the story. Tabu was on my radar for years, I adore her and have closely followed her work. She is an incredible actor with charisma and depth, making her the perfect choice for this role.” Schapker said. She added that casting a character like Sister Francesca at such a late stage in the series was particularly challenging, as they required an actor who could just blend into the storyline and command attention while making an immediate impact.
She praised Tabu's star quality, which made her one of the talented co-stars such as Emily Watson, Mark Strong, and Josh Brolin. The principle of casting was not based on race, but an actor who can give depth and authenticity to the character. The idea is to create a world full of differences but still having unity all throughout the story.

Emily Watson, one of the senior members of the Bene Gesserit, also shared some of her thoughts on acting in the interaction. Talking with India Today, Watson said “Oh gosh, it’s different every time you do it. For me, it’s about finding roles where I feel stretched, where I have to really investigate human nature and make discoveries. Acting is about reflecting the complexity of people, and that’s what makes it fun and rewarding.”
'Dune: Prophecy' is set 10,000 years before the events of 'Dune' and explores the origins of the Bene Gesserit, the Atreides-Harkonnen feud, and the human-machine war. The series also stars Olivia Williams as Tula Harkonnen, along with Emily Watson as Valya Harkonnen, both top-ranking members of the Bene Gesserit. The sisters are driven by ambition and plotting to restore House Harkonnen's dominance by manipulating Emperor Javicco Corrino, played by Mark Strong, and indoctrinating his daughter, Princess Ynez, played by Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, into their ranks.