Star Wars Meets Game Of Thrones In HBO Max's 10/10 Sci-Fi Saga That They Both Copied

Published Sep 16, 2026, 7:06 PM EDT Felipe Rangel is a Movie and TV Journalist ScreenRant. He has been writing about movies and TV since 2021. Felipe joined ScreenRant in 2022, working across different teams, covering everything from breaking news to features to reviews and more. Felipe is a writer who is an avid film and TV fan, with superhero movies and series being his biggest passion. He graduated from college in 2019, having studied Journalism. Before college, he spent a month studying at the Oxford English Centre. His superhero knowledge expands to the comics, with his undergraduate thesis being "Politics Reflected In American Comics." Sign in to your ScreenRant account Star Wars and Game of Thrones are two of the most popular franchises in movie and TV history, which means that this space opera franchise they both copied and inspired, comes as the perfect project for fans of those universes to watch, and there is a new release on the way. When talking about influential sci-fi movies, there is simply no going wrong with Star Wars. George Lucas' original Star Wars movie helped define generations of sci-fi releases, which were inspired by its characters, technology, visuals, politics, and more. The Star Wars franchise has just kept growing over the years, which included a shift from the big screen to several Star Wars shows on Disney+. However, in 2026, it returned to theaters with Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu. As for Game of Thrones, just like Star Wars was influential for the sci-fi genre, George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels, which led to the creation of HBO's Game of Thrones, have helped define fantasy adaptations. The Game of Thrones universe has expanded with multiple global hit prequels, with more of those, sequel series, and new shows, currently in development. Arrakis · 10191 AG Which Dune Character Are You? “The spice must flow.” ⚔️ Paul Atreides The Chosen One 🔮 Lady Jessica The Strategist 🏜️ Chani The Warrior 🛡️ Stilgar The Believer 🕷️ Baron Harkonnen The Mastermind WALK THE SANDS OF ARRAKIS → 12345678 01 You arrive on a new planet with vast resources and hidden dangers. What’s your first move? AConsult the local customs and respect the land — it was here long before you BSurvey the terrain alone — I need to understand this place on my own terms CStudy the power dynamics — who controls what, and how can I position myself DIdentify the most valuable resource and figure out how to control it EConnect with the locals — they know how to survive here, not the outsiders ← BACKNEXT → 12345678 02 A sandworm erupts from the desert floor. Everyone scatters. What do you do? AStand still — I’ve seen this moment before, I know what happens next BMove with purpose — I know the desert’s rhythms, this isn’t my first worm CProtect the group — get between the danger and the people who matter DObserve its pattern — there’s always a weakness if you watch long enough ELet the others panic — chaos is an opportunity for the prepared mind ← BACKNEXT → 12345678 03 Your closest ally is accused of betrayal. The evidence looks convincing. What do you do? AExamine every detail — evidence can be manufactured, and I know how it’s done BStand by them without question — faith doesn’t bend to circumstance CDistance myself publicly but investigate privately — never show your hand DTrust my instincts — I can sense the truth even when the facts say otherwise EConfront them directly — I’d rather hear the truth from their mouth than from rumors ← BACKNEXT → 12345678 04 How would the people of Arrakis describe you? ASomeone who earned their place — no titles, no shortcuts, just grit BFeared. And that’s exactly how I want it CBurdened by something they don’t fully understand — touched by destiny DImpossible to read — they never quite know what I’m thinking EDevoted — I serve something greater than myself and I’m proud of it ← BACKNEXT → 12345678 05 Two factions are at war and both want you on their side. How do you respond? AChoose the side that serves the greater good, even if it costs me everything BPlay both sides until I know which one benefits me most CSide with the people, not the politics — power games mean nothing to the oppressed DNegotiate from the shadows — I can shape the outcome without choosing a side EFollow the leader I believe in — loyalty isn’t a decision, it’s a calling ← BACKNEXT → 12345678 06 You gain access to knowledge that could reshape the balance of power. What do you do with it? AWeaponize it — knowledge is the sharpest blade BCarry it alone — this burden is mine, and sharing it would only cause more pain CShare it strategically — the right information to the right person at the right time DTell the people it affects most — they deserve the truth, not manipulation ETrust that the prophecy will reveal its purpose — the path will become clear ← BACKNEXT → 12345678 07 After a devastating loss, how do you process the grief? AWalk into the desert alone — the silence is the only thing that understands BSee it echoing through every possible future — the pain becomes part of the vision CPray, reflect, and find meaning — loss is part of the sacred journey DCompartmentalize — grieve later, survive now EConvert it into fuel — pain is weakness unless you forge it into ambition ← BACKNEXT → 08 When the dust settles and the spice wars end, what matters most to you? AThat I served with honor and my faith was rewarded BThat my people are free and the land is respected CThat the sacrifices meant something — even if the cost was everything DThat the ones I love survived — the rest was just politics EThat I won. History is written by the victors, after all REVEAL MY CHARACTER → Mentat Analysis Complete Your Dune Alter Ego ⚔️ Paul Atreides “I will not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.” You carry the weight of destiny on your shoulders — and somehow, you don’t buckle. You see patterns others miss, sense what’s coming before it arrives, and feel the pull of something greater than yourself. People look to you for answers, and you deliver — but at a cost. You’re learning that the power to see the future doesn’t mean you can control it. Leadership found you whether you wanted it or not.Visionary Burdened Decisive Prophetic 🔮 Lady Jessica “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.” You’re the most dangerous person in any room — and nobody sees it coming. Your power lies in observation, manipulation of subtle details, and an almost supernatural ability to read people. You play the long game, and you play it well. But beneath the calculated exterior is someone torn between duty and love. When forced to choose between the plan and the people you care about, your heart wins every time.Calculating Devoted Powerful Conflicted 🏜️ Chani “You will never lose me. Not to this world, not to any other.” You don’t need a title or a prophecy to define you — you define yourself through action. You’re fiercely independent, deeply rooted in your community, and skeptical of anyone who promises salvation. You’ve survived by being smart, tough, and uncompromising. You love deeply but you don’t lose yourself in it. The desert made you who you are, and you wouldn’t trade that for all the water in the universe.Fierce Grounded Loyal Resourceful 🛡️ Stilgar “As it was written.” You are the bedrock — the person everyone counts on when the sand shifts beneath their feet. Your strength comes from conviction: you believe in something bigger than yourself and you commit to it absolutely. Some call it blind faith; you call it purpose. You’re traditional, deeply loyal, and the first to recognize greatness in others. When the chosen one arrives, you’ll be the first to kneel — and the last to leave their side.Faithful Honorable Steadfast Traditional 🕷️ Baron Harkonnen “He who controls the spice controls the universe.” You think three moves ahead while everyone else is still setting up the board. Power isn’t something that falls into your lap — you engineer it, cultivate it, and protect it with ruthless precision. You’re not evil, you’re practical. The universe doesn’t reward the kind; it rewards the clever. You understand leverage, patience, and the art of letting your enemies destroy themselves. People may not like you, but they respect you — and fear you.Cunning Ambitious Patient Ruthless ↻ PLAY AGAIN The Game of Thrones franchise is also making a move to the big screen, just like Star Wars' 2026 theatrical return. The first Game of Thrones movie will be focused on Aegon's Conquest. At this turning point in the two fan-favorite franchises' history, it is important to look at how they came to be. Both Star Wars and Game of Thrones were inspired by Frank Herbert's Dune, and history later repeated itself. Star Wars Was Heavily Inspired By Dune Out of the two franchises, the clearest to draw parallels back to Dune is undoubtedly Lucas' Star Wars. While the creator of the most iconic sci-fi movie franchise of all time has yet to acknowledge just how much the concept was inspired by Herbert's Dune, we don't need to hear Lucas say it to clearly connect the dots between the two. No, the connection does not only come down to Star Wars and Dune being sci-fi stories with deserts as a setting, as Lucas claimed to be the case in a 1977 interview with the Associated Press. That said, let's take as an example that comparison made by Lucas himself. It does not take a giant leap to see how Star Wars' Tatooine fills in as the space opera franchise's version of Arrakis. Like Paul Atreides' world in the Dune franchise, Tatooine is a planet known for having deserts everywhere, with its population living in arid conditions. Additionally, Arrakis' two moons are swapped for Tatooine's iconic twin suns. Tatooine also became the de-facto main planet in the Star Wars franchise, serving as the kicking-off point for Luke Skywalker, Anakin Skywalker, and Rey Skywalker's journeys. As for the rest of Star Wars' similarities to Dune, the full-of-teeth sand monsters known as Sarlacc's are easy stand-ins for Dune's Sandworms. Star Wars' Empire and Dune's Imperium serve as the galaxy's center of power. Star Wars' rebel alliance can be in part compared to Dune's Fremen, though the former is made up of characters from all over the galaxy, rather than just one planet. Anakin's fall from grace as the Chosen One to a dark force is closely tied to that of Paul Atreides. Finally, Lucas also used spice, a key factor in Dune, in the Star Wars universe. Game Of Thrones Also Used Elements From Dune Game of Thrones, albeit to a lesser extent, also used elements from Dune, similarly to Star Wars. At the forefront of the two are huge political and physical battles between old and powerful houses. In Dune lore, House Harkonnen and House Atreides carried out a war that would eventually lead to the universe changing in a fundamental way, all due to the years of guilt, revenge, and bloodshed that would come out of the original conflict. In Game of Thrones, the main conflict between houses came from House Stark and House Lannister. The first mirrors the Atreides, aka the more honorable characters and those who are victims of political schemes and betrayals. The latter, like Dune's House Harkonnen, is the one playing the power games in the shadows and doing the betraying. Ned Stark's role in Game of Thrones is clearly similar to that of Leto Atreides in Dune. Both were the main figures of power for their respective houses, who, after changing locations at a request from those above them in the chain of command, end up being killed early on, starting the franchises' main conflict. Another huge connection between them, as was the case in Star Wars, comes down to the "Chosen One" trope. In Dune, it was Paul Atreides, who ultimately became a despot that threw the universe into a seemingly unending period of war despite starting out as an honorable man seeking revenge. In Game of Thrones, while both Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen fit the Prince That Was Promised prophecy, the latter is the one to follow Paul's footsteps, descending into madness and burning King's Landing after finally achieving her goal. The Dune Movies Wouldn't Exist Without Star Wars & Game Of Thrones While both Star Wars and Game of Thrones borrowed elements from Dune, as can be seen, the two popular franchises ended up being crucial to the modern chapter in Herbert's universe. That would be Denis Villeneuve's Dune movies. The space opera franchise, with Villeneuve's trilogy ending on December 18 as Dune: Part Three releases, was heavily impacted visually by Star Wars, while it is hard to imagine that Warner Bros., the studio behind the Dune movies, would commit to such an expensive franchise without Game of Thrones' success on HBO. After all, David Lynch's old Dune movie had been a box office bomb, but Game of Thrones' success with a dark, slow-paced, political story in a fantasy setting, likely gave the studio the confidence that was needed to get the modern Dune franchise off the ground. Both Star Wars and Game of Thrones taught audiences that nuanced political stories could go hand-in-hand with sprawling blockbuster adventures, laying the foundation for Villeneuve's Dune movies to be a success. So, even if Star Wars and Game of Thrones borrowed from Dune, they have both since given back in spades. Created by George Lucas First Film Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope Cast Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal TV Show(s) The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions Movie(s) Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order Character(s) Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian. TV Show(s) Game Of Thrones, House of the Dragon, A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms First TV Show Game Of Thrones Cast Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Sophie Turner, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Maisie Williams, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Iain Glen, John Bradley, Alfie Allen, Conleth Hill, Liam Cunningham, Gwendoline Christie, Aidan Gillen, Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Rory McCann, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jerome Flynn, Rhys Ifans, Matt Smith, Graham McTavish, Fabien Frankel, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Emma D'Arcy, Matthew Needham, Olivia Cooke, Milly Alcock, Emily Carey Created by George R.R. Martin Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim. Created by Frank Herbert First Film Dune Cast Kyle MacLachlan, Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Austin Butler, Javier Bardem, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Stellan Skarsgård, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista Movie(s) Dune, Dune, Dune: Part Two, Dune: Part Three Dune is a sci-fi franchise created by Frank Herbert with the 1965 novel of the same name. In 1984, the first live-action adaptation was released from director David Lynch and starring Kyle MacLachlan. About 20 years later, a TV mini-series was released, followed by a new adaptation starring Timothée Chalamet.