Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Dune: Prophecy.Dune: Prophecy made a surprising revelation about one of the series' characters being a child born from the union of a Harkonnen and an Atreides. This turnaround came later Dune: Part Two revealed that Lady Jessica is the daughter of the evil Baron Harkonnen, making her son Paul a member of House Harkonnen as well. The complicated war between these two Great Houses has been at the forefront of several Dune books, and the fact that both families produced another son in Dune: Prophecy'cast of characters reaffirms the impact they had on the world of the franchise.
The mixing of the Harkonnen and Atreides bloodlines led to crucial plot points in the Dune franchise schedule. Having been born into both families, Paul Atreides had the genetics to become the long-awaited messiah of the Bene Gesserits, the Kwisatz Haderach. Meanwhile, the Harkonnen/Atreides child in Dune: Prophecy was portrayed as a formidable threat to their order, as this villainous character sought to bring peace to the Empire by freeing it from the influence of the Bene Gesserit, no matter the cost.
Dune: Prophecy reveals another powerful product of the Atreides/Harkonnen bloodline
The two great houses created a figure similar to Paul
The villain Desmond Hart has been a figure of great mystery since his debut in Dune: Prophecy. However, the fifth episode of Dune the prequel series revealed Desmond Hart's true identity as the secret son of a Harkonnen and an Atreides. Desmond displays a more direct link to both royal bloodlines than Paul, as he appears to be the son of Tula Harkonnen and Orry Atreides. Like Paul, Desmond presents himself as a powerful figure and a prophet endowed with superhuman powers.
While Paul's powers were the product of the Bene Gesserit's 10,000-year-old breeding program, Desmond's powers are presented as the result of an unexpected miracle. After appearing to have survived being consumed by the Shai-Hulud sandworm on Arrakis,Desmond returns to House Corrino, claiming to have received supernatural powers from her. He shows such strength by burning people alive with just his thoughts. While it's unclear whether his abilities are legitimate, Desmond's powers could make him as strong, if not stronger, than Paul.
Why mixing Houses Atreides and Harkonnen is so powerful
These great houses carry great power revealed through their union
The Bene Gesserit spent centuries of genetic planning to produce the Kwisatz Haderach, born with the ability to see the past and the future and destined to guide humanity as Emperor of the Known Universe. Combining the Harkonnen and Atreides bloodlines after so many years should achieve this. Since Dune: Prophecy takes place 10,000 years before DuneIt is unclear whether the Harkonnen and Atreides genes were developed enough to give Desmond the powers that Paul wielded.
Additionally, the revelation that Paul and Jessica were Harkonnens in Dune: Part Two emphasized how they were no different from their ancestral enemy. Similar to the Baron and his family, they also took control of Arrakis and enslaved the Fremen with lies to assert their authority and massacred countless people. However Dune: Prophecy shows the early days of the Harkonnens' rivalry with House Atreides, the fact that these two Great Houses produced a child together had the potential to unite these warring families. However, based on the ongoing war in Denis Villeneuve's war Dune movies, that peace never sees the light of day. However, Desmond mirrors Paul by using his supposed gifts to bring about death and destruction in pursuit of revenge against those who wronged him.
Although Paul displayed godlike abilities thanks to the genes he inherited from both Great Houses, Desmond showed in the series that he could be an even greater threat to the Bene Gesserit and the Known Universe than the Kwisatz Haderach.
It's too early to say exactly how Desmond's Harkonnen and Atreides genes enabled him after his encounter with Shai-Hulud. However, Dune: Prophecy shows once again how destructive and unpredictable the Harkonnen and Atreides bloodlines can be, especially when they converge. Although Paul displayed godlike abilities thanks to the genes he inherited from both Great Houses, Desmond showed in the series that he could be an even greater threat to the Bene Gesserit and the Known Universe than the Kwisatz Haderach.