Interview: Aoife Hinds On Dune: Prophecy – ‘It Asks, How Far Will We Go With AI?’

The Dune universe is expanding, with a prequel series for the small screen that transports viewers to the days following the Great Machine Wars and the early days of the Bene Gesserit. Dune: Prophecy‘s Aoife Hinds sits down with us to give us insight into this new fantastical world.

Interview With Dune: Prophecy‘s Aoife Hinds

How have you been? 

I’m good. I’m in New York, and it’s a really lovely day outside. We have the premiere of the show this evening. I’ve been over for a few days to celebrate. 

Exciting. Are you nervous – have you seen any clips yet? 

I’ve seen the first few episodes. You’re always kind of nervous, but you turn those nerves into excitement. 

Tell me about the show. What’s the elevator pitch? 

It’s about power, influence, survival and family. And at the crux of it, it follows a group of women fighting to make their world a better, safer place – the Bene Gesserit, 10,000 years before the Dune films begin. 

Tell us what might be different from the Bene Gesserit we know in the films? 

In the films their powers are quite apparent. But here you don’t know about all of them yet. They’ve only just created this sisterhood. They’re a hidden hand, aiming to influence these big, powerful families. You discover their origin, why the sisterhood was created, who it was created by. 

Tell me about your character Sister Emeline? 

She’s been brought up by the Butlerians, a religious faction from the Dune universe. She’s been educated through the orange Catholic Bible which is the main religious text. The main thing [about the Butlerians] is that they’re against all technology and artificial intelligence. Emeline is very spiritual, and she comes to the sisterhood to train to be a truth-sayer and Reverent Mother. But as the story comes on, you discover she might have another underlying agenda… 

Mysterious. How did you prepare for the role? 

Interestingly, through art. In the initial prep weeks, there was this exhibition on at the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest, an El Greco exhibition. I went in and just soaked up all this religious imagery. And then of course there was stunt and physical training. We had to do choreography too for prana-bindu, the meditation the sisterhood practise. 

What was it like working with Alison Schapker? 

Her creative mind is so inspirational – she’s been the most encouraging the whole way through. It’s been really great. 

Did you read the books in the run up to the show coming out? 

I didn’t read the books, no. I mean, I was familiar with the films and the world. But the world is so expansive that working it all out could be a whole life’s work. And there’s something to the idea that the girls arrive on the sisterhood’s planet knowing nothing and working it out as they go along.

The existing media from Dune speaks to a lot of themes – like occupation, rule, state-making – do you think that Dune: Prophecy speaks to anything pertinent today? 

For me the biggest thing is that there’s a group of women going through really strenuous, mental and physical training to control their bodies on a molecular level and push the boundaries of what it means to be human. It really explores what women’s bodies are capable of. I felt really compelled to honour that.  

You mentioned earlier that AI is a concern for the Bene Gesserit, too. Do you not feel that that theme is explored and concerns now, too? 

Yeah, it definitely does. In the world in which the show exists, there’s been the Great Machine Wars, basically humanity had been on the cusp of being wiped out by technology, and so AI has been completely forbidden. With everything going on in our world, the technological processes, it does pose an important question: how far will we go with AI? 

Do you worry much about AI in the creative industries? 

It’s definitely worrying and dangerous. I do believe deep down, though, that the need for human connection will prevail. 

Are there any memories you particularly hold dear to you from filming? 

So many. Working with Emily Watson and Olivia Williams was pretty incredible. Seeing them work, how they carried themselves on set. But also I do feel like the cast created its very own little sisterhood. 

Were you filming much away from home? Might we recognise any of Dune: Prophecy film locations? 

I don’t think so. Most things were specially created. We filmed in studios in Budapest with sets built from nothing by our incredible set designers and crew. Some exteriors perhaps? 

Do you hope to work on a season two? 

We’re yet to know but hopefully, if there’s demand for it, if people are interested in this story continuing. As an actor there’s something so interesting about seeing your character develop through seasons. They might start in one place and end up in another completely different one. 

And what’s next for you?

A film I can’t say anything about. And I’m going to explore New York for a couple of days – I’m getting Korean barbecue!

Dune Prophecy is now available via NOW TV and will air weekly on Sky Atlantic from 18 November 2024. nowtv.com; sky.com

Featured image – photographer: byPip; styling: Farrah O’Connor; hair stylist: Ken O’Rourke; makeup artist: Kay Montano