British stars Emily Watson and Olivia Williams have joined forces in Max’s “Dune: Prophecy,” the prequel series to the blockbuster “Dune” movies with deeper themes of women in power and the influence they’re capable of wielding.

Those who aren’t au fait with the books have probably watched the Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya-anchored film franchise, with the second movie releasing earlier this year.

The bar is high regarding HBO’s Dune series, but it was a challenge the show’s cast and crew were willing to meet. Set in Frank Herbert’s Dune universe, Dune: Prophecy focuses on the early days of the Galactic Imperium as the Bene Gesserit sisterhood and the Landsraad houses embark on a quest for power and influence.