Indian cinema star Tabu plays a central role in the “Dune” universe in Max’s prequel series “Dune: Prophecy,” appearing in the final two episodes as Sister Francesca.
Inspired by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson’s “Sisterhood of Dune,” the series is set 10,000 years before the events of “Dune” and follows two Harkonnen sisters as they battle forces that threaten the future of humanity, while establish what will become the Bene Gesserit order. .
Alison Schapker serves as showrunner and executive producer, while Diane Ademu-John co-develops the series and serves as executive producer. Anna Foerster director produced and directed several episodes.
The role came to Tabu – whose international credits include Mira Nair’s “The Namesake” (2006) and “A Suitable Boy” (2020) and Ang Lee’s “Life of Pi” (2012)) – through a simple process.
“One day I just got an email from my agents and managers telling me that Alison and Anna were the showrunners and that the directors of the show wanted to cast me for this specific role,” says Tabu. Variety. After watching two scenes from the script, she joined a Zoom meeting the next day where the creative team outlined her character’s involvement in the final two episodes. “I just loved the character and the potential of this character. I knew this is my world and that I would love to do this.”
The project, shot in Budapest, marked several firsts for the actor. “I think it’s the first time ever in my career, or at least in the last 20 years, that I’ve worked with people that I’ve never met before, that I’ve never worked with before. [in] a place I have never been before,” says Tabu.
The character of Sister Francesca consists of two time periods, with Charithra Chandran (“Bridgerton”) playing the younger version. “Allison, Anna and everyone on the crew were very particular about meeting me so she could soak up something,” says Tabu. “You never know what will come out of it, that meeting where you feed off each other because you’re playing the same person.”
“It was really nice to have that meeting, and because she is also familiar with my work, and because she was originally born into an Indian family, she has such an introduction. So it wasn’t difficult. And I think the transition feels credible,” she adds.
For Tabu, building the character came with specific considerations. “I was aware of the world to which Francesca belongs. I wanted her to feel like she belongs to the world of the Bene Gesserit, but because she has such a strong personality and a strong story of her own, which is not connected to the others and the other characters, it was interesting to to go beyond both of these. things,” says Tabu.
The actor found several aspects of the role convincing. “Every scene of mine was beautiful to play. I had beautiful lyrics to say. My interaction with the Emperor [Mark Strong] was something I will cherish, also with Constantijn [Josh Heuston]my son,” says Tabu. “It’s a very, very strong premise for me to build a character, but the interesting thing was also that it was a romantic association that I had to have with the Emperor. It gave this character his own space and his own potential to explore.
“Also, wearing that costume, wearing that veil, just being different and looking different from what I’ve looked like – I’ve never had that before. It’s such a unique look,” she adds.
Tabu as Sister Francesca in “Dune: Prophecy”
Warner Bros. Discovery
The production environment, led by women in key creative positions, left a strong impression on Tabu. “You had the sense that these are women of substance, who know what they’re doing, who’ve done so much work, whose body of work is enormous, and you could just trust their understanding of what they were doing. You felt protected, you felt cared for,” says Tabu.
Tabu also brought a taste of her homeland. “I brought Indian food on set and fed Josh and everyone. I had a restaurant in Budapest – they sent me lunch, dinner and everything to prepare. And we sat outside our caravans and ate,” says Tabu. “And apart from that… I have myself and when I come, India comes, and my house comes, and my work in India comes with me. So it’s the whole package.”
In Bollywood, Tabu enjoyed a hit with the female-led comedy ‘Crew’ in 2024 and looking ahead, she will star in filmmaker Priyadarshan’s horror-comedy ‘Bhooth Bangla’, which will go into production next year. Her previous outing in the genre, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’, was one of the biggest Bollywood hits of 2022.