The House Harkonnen home world inDune: Prophecyis different from the black-and-white world of Giedi Prime shown in Denis Villeneuve’s movies. The Harkonnens are the central antagonists of Frank Herbert’s originalDunenovels and the feature film adaptations, waging war on House Atreides over control of the planet Arrakis. However, HBO’s prequel TV series takes place 10,000 years earlier onDune’stimeline, and though there are many similarities between the world depicted in both versions, there arenotable differences in the portrayal of members of House Harkonnen, two of whom are the protagonists in the series.
Veteran actors Emily Watson and Olivia Williams lead theDune: Prophecycastas Valya and Tula Harkonnen, two women who have abandoned the duties of their house to join the Sisterhood, an early form of the Bene Gesserit. In the show’s main timeline, Valya Harkonnen is the Mother Superior of the Sisterhood, but flashbacks also depict a younger version of her and her sister. Episode 3 shows how their paths separated from that of their family, andaudiences might notice that they lived on a planet known as Lankiveil rather than Giedi Prime.
What’s Known About Lankiveil In Dune
Lankiveil Was Given To The Harkonnens After The Butlerian Jihad
Lankiveil was a planet mentioned in the originalDunenovels, known for its frigid, wet environment and primary industry of whale furs. This idea is consistent with its portrayal inDune: Prophecy.In Herbert’s novels, Lankiveil was granted to Abulurd Harkonnen, the younger half-brother of Baron Vladimir Harkonnenand father of Glossu Rabban and Feyd-Rautha. After Glossu Rabban murdered his father, he became the Count of Lankiveil. The lore of this planet is expanded on in the novels by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, influencing its depiction in the HBO series.
House Harkonnen received control over the planet Lankiveil as a consequence for their actions, essentially placing them in social exile.
In the book,The Battle of Corrin, which is part of theLegends of Duneprequel trilogy, the story of House Harkonnen’s disgrace in the Butlerian Jihad is explained. This event kicked off the 10,000-yearfeud between the Harkonnens and the Atreides. After being branded as cowards, House Harkonnen received control over the planet Lankiveil as a consequence for their actions, essentially placing them in social exile. This is where events pick up in the HBO series, with the Harkonnens low on the food chain of houses, outcast to the frozen planet.
Books in theLegends of Dunetrilogy
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When Did The Harkonnens Move To Giedi Prime?
It’s Not Clear When Exactly They Acquired Giedi Prime
By the time of theDunebook and movies, House Harkonnen is at a much higher political standing, having grown exponentially in power since the era ofDune: Prophecy. With that in mind, however,there isn’t too much information in any of the Frank Herbert books or expandedDunestories that explains how or when House Harkonnen inherited Giedi Prime. It’s mentioned that control over the planet shifted from its previous owners during the Butlerian Jihad, but there’s some time between that and when the Harkonnens move in.
AfterDune: Prophecyepisode 3’s ending, it’s possible that the story of House Harkonnen’s migration to Giedi Prime could occur throughout the series. With Valya Harkonnen relying on her uncle and nephew to help her solve her crisis with Desmond Hart, they’ll likely expect something in return from the Mother Superior of the Sisterhood. House Corrino will remain in power, but the factions surrounding the emperor could shift in value throughout the prequel, with the Sisterhood and Harkonnens both making strides toward their strength from the movies.
How Giedi Prime Changed House Harkonnen
The Harkonnen Physical Appearance Changes From The Show To The Movies
Thephysical effects of Giedi Prime on the Harkonnens are fairly apparent in the movie/TV universe, and this was essentially an aesthetic choice made by Denis Villeneuve. The idea for the infrared black-and-white appearance of Giedi Prime inDune: Part Twowas a way of demonstrating how the ecological differences experienced between the Harkonnens and other houses shaped their looks and personalities, which could be a product of the black sun, pollution, chemicals, or some other effect. Regardless, the Harkonnens inDune: Prophecydon’t appear that way.
Dune: Prophecy Introduces Its Baron Harkonnen Replacement & They’re Badly Needed
The HBO prequel series Dune: Prophecy introduces a new Harkonnen figure in episode 3 who has eerily similar characteristics to the Baron.
As mentioned, House Harkonnen is far more wealthy and powerful in theDunemovies than they are in the prequel. Their original wealth came from whale fur trading, and they continued to expand their standing as events progressed closer to the era of the films. By the time the story of Paul Atreides starts, the Harkonnens have amassed great wealth from the spice trade, and have their own stockpile that rivals the wealth of the emperor. InDune: Prophecy, they still have a long way to go.
Dune: Prophecy
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.
