Dune: Prophecy has been dubbed by many as a Game of Thrones replacement, and the new sci-fi series has enforced that further by bringing in one of the best parts of the fantasy show’s first season. The Dune prequel series is set 10,000 earlier than Denis Villeneuve’s films on the timeline, examining an earlier era of House Harkonnen, the Bene Gesserit, and other notable factions. Notably, the series is more focused on political scheming than the movies, which oriented themselves around the awe of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi universe.

As is the case with any series focused around political scheming and some elements of the fantastical, Dune: Prophecy has received multiple comparisons to Game of Thrones. Many streaming services have tried to replicate the cultural phenomenon of Game of Thrones, be it with The Wheel of Time, The Witcher, or The Rings of Power, all of which have even featured prominent actors from the HBO series in their casts. Dune: Prophecy’s cast is the latest to follow suit, adding Mark Addy as Evgeny Harkonnen.

Dune: Prophecy Serves A Reminder Of How Great Robert Baratheon Was

Robert Baratheon Was One Of Game Of Thrones’ Most Iconic Characters

Robert Baratheon may have only had a short stint on Game of Thrones, but he’s still one of the most beloved characters in the entire series. Mark Addy’s performance as the washed-up Lord of the Seven Kingdoms was unforgettable, and he’s constantly a source of quotes and memes for fans of the series on the internet, with Redditors dubbing him “Bobby B.” In Dune: Prophecy episode 3, Mark Addy joined the cast as Evgeny Harkonnen, Valya Harkonnen’s uncle.

While he hasn’t been given too much material to work with in the Dune prequel just yet, his presence was a quick reminder of just how fantastic his Game of Thrones character was. Of course, Robert Baratheon’s death was the catalyst for the War of the Five Kings and many of the show’s events, but his impact lingered beyond that. For fans of the novels, Addy’s King Robert felt like one of the characters who was ripped straight out of the pages of A Song of Ice & Fire, perfectly capturing George R.R. Martin’s creation.

Dune: Prophecy Sets Up Another Great HBO Role For Mark Addy

Could Evgeny Harkonnen Be His Next Great Role?

Image via Max

Dune: Prophecy episode 3’s ending sees Valya visiting her uncle and nephew to request help, setting up a begrudging alliance between them. Mark Addy is a terrific actor, and having his character work alongside Valya, who he seems to truly despise, should be a recipe for some fantastic dynamics. Topping Robert Baratheon would be an immense challenge for Mark Addy, but it’s fun to see him back on HBO with an interesting new role on Dune: Prophecy.