Emily Watson has said the second season of HBO Max’s “Dune: Prophecy” will introduce “lots of new elements”, although she declined to reveal specifics because of the show’s secrecy. Reprising her role as Valya Harkonnen has given her a rare sense of being on a quest, which she said actresses do not always get to experience, and marks a continued shift from her independent-film background into large-scale science fiction.

Speaking at the Sarajevo Film Festival, where she chaired the jury and received a Heart of Sarajevo Award, Watson said filming on season two has finished but no release date has been announced. She described the first season as a major departure involving spaceships, a large budget and a younger ensemble, and said she values mentoring less experienced performers; she also expressed enthusiasm for Denis Villeneuve’s forthcoming “Dune: Part Three”.