LOS ANGELES, USA – “The paycheck,” quipped Travis Fimmel when asked in a recent video interview what made him sign up as Desmond Hart in Dune: Prophecy, the original drama series now streaming on HBO and Max.

Travis, the Australian actor who plays the enigmatic soldier with a mysterious power, has emerged as one of the most compelling characters in the show set 10,000 years before the ascension of Timothee Chalamet — okay, Paul Atreides.

In addition, Travis’ charm and Aussie humor in real life — evident in his interviews, including this one — have been winning him fans.

Viewers are enamored with the actor, who was memorable as Ragnar Lothbrok in the Vikings series and whose other roles include Anduin Lothar in the live-action movie Warcraft, Marcus in the series Raised by Wolves, and detective James Cormack in the Australian mystery drama series Black Snow.

It helps that Travis, 45, is blessed with rugged good looks, which first got him noticed at 22, when he became the first male model to land an exclusive contract to pose in Calvin Klein’s popular underwear in 2002.

The pop lore is that Travis, who grew up on his family’s farm in southeastern Australia, began as a model when he was seen in a Melbourne gym. Travis then headed to the US, where he was signed on the spot when he walked into the office of LA Models, barefoot and broke.

“No, the scripts are very entertaining,” the Victoria, Australia native said after his initial quip on why he joined Dune: Prophecy, inspired by the expansive universe that author Frank Herbert created.

“There’s a lot of intrigue in the scripts,” Travis remarked about the series created by Alison Schapker and Diane Ademu-John. “It’s one big riddle, it has very complex characters, and it’s a fun journey in which the audience will enjoy the ride.”

“I was very lucky that the writing was strong and that there’s so much complexity to the character, which makes it enjoyable,” added Travis about his mysterious Arrakis warrior who figures in the origin story of the Bene Gesserit, the Sisterhood led by Valya Harkonnen (Emily Watson) and Tula Harkonnen (Olivia Williams).

“My character likes messing with people’s heads and making people second-guess their thoughts. So, that’s very enjoyable for an actor to do.”

Again speaking with humor, Travis dished: “And you get free food on set and per diems. You get a little spending money.”

He was on a roll. Asked what strategy he would use if he were the leader of the desert planet of Arrakis, Travis replied: “Free ice cream for everyone. You don’t have to work on Fridays. Four-day work week.”

“And the strategy is to make everybody think that I know what I’m doing when, in actuality, I have no idea what I’m doing. It’s not my acting career.”

Travis was also disarming several hours later on the red carpet media line at Dune: Prophecy‘s splashy premiere at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York. He carried a can of Travla, made by the beer company he founded with his mates.

On his character’s relationship with the Bene Gesserit — Desmond Hart is wreaking havoc on the Sisterhood with his infernal magic — Travis remarked: “I have a bad background with the Bene Gesserit. It’s a cult.”

“They’ve influenced people in the wrong way and, certainly, sending the Dune world’s trajectory in the wrong direction.”

Travis elaborated on Desmond, whose motivations and source of power are stirring many — and differing — viewer speculations: “I relish the role a lot. There’s a lot to play. He’s a very driven character.”

“And I like his mental corruption. Really getting into people’s heads and making them second-guess their own thoughts.”

“He’s got a lot of pain that drives him, which is always helpful as an actor. He thinks he’s very right in the goals that he’s trying to achieve and he’ll do anything to achieve those goals.”

Travis talked about how the spectacular sets in the series filmed in Hungary and Jordan helped him as an actor. “It’s very helpful, mate,” he replied to me. “Everything’s shot in a studio. Well, 90% of the show is, and all my stuff is in the studio.”

“It blows your mind when you walk into some big empty shed that’s now full of amazing, extravagant sets. And the show’s look is beautiful.”

“And the writing. This man (turning to Jordan Goldberg, the show’s writer and executive producer, who was paired with him in the interview) has the sexiest lexicon south of Canada. The writing’s so intriguing, mate. It’s complex characters. It’s a fun ride.”

“Everybody’s messing with each other. It’s one big riddle, and it’s up to the audience to try to find out what the solution is and the answer to the riddle.”

Still on the writing, Travis acknowledged that there may have been initial pressure since the two Dune films directed by Denis Villeneuve have been hailed. Jordan and several others are credited as writers of the prequel show based on Sisterhood of Dune, the novel written by Brian Herbert, Frank Herbert’s son, and Kevin J. Anderson.

“I suppose there was a bit of pressure because the films are so good and did tremendously well. But once you read the script, it’s exciting because the scripts, like we keep saying, are one big riddle, and the moral ambiguity pulls the audience to get behind and watch.”

“It’s one huge game of chess. And it’s great to watch a competition or a game. That’s what the show really provides.”

Jordan, asked what other role in Dune: Prophecy he would cast Travis in if he could, answered, “I would cast Travis as an emperor because I feel like he’s fit to rule.”

Travis reacted: “I’ll take that, yes. I’d play any character in these scripts. Everybody’s got their own voice.”

“There’s something for every audience member — one character to latch on. It’s like being in high school: everybody’s different, different groups, and there’s something in it for everyone. I’d like to play the emperor.”

Jordan told Travis: “I’ve seen you play a ruler in Vikings as well. So, really a big fan. Concubines and grapes.”

Jordan shared that he is especially excited for the viewers to see the plot twists involving Travis’ charismatic yet intriguing soldier.

“I’m excited about a lot of it (the series). But my man, Travis, over here, his character goes to a lot of reversals, and it’s a lot of fun to watch. He’s extraordinary, I think, in episode four.”

“He’s got a great moment in there. It’s fun to see the riddles unfold and reveal new secrets. I think audiences will love that about the show.”

Jordan paid tribute to the man who started it all. “For me, personally, Frank Herbert’s Dune has been the cornerstone of science fiction since it came out, and any opportunity to participate in any small inch of that universe is a fantastic opportunity.”

He added: “I remember when Alison called me about working on Dune. She just had to say the word Dune and I was in. It is an exciting thing to be a part of.”

“I think the films are great, and the books were very meaningful in my life when I was growing up. Then, when I found out all the elements that were involved in the show…the cast just blows you away.”

“So, you want to take part in something like that. It doesn’t come around often.”

The cast includes Jodhi May, Mark Strong, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Josh Heuston, Chloe Lea, Jade Anouka, Faoileann Cunningham, Aoife Hinds, Chris Mason, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Edward Davis, Jihae, Tabu, Jessica Barden, and Emma Canning.

On the biggest challenge of literally building the Dune universe, Jordan said: “Frank Herbert’s universe is actually a universe. So, in our show, we visit quite a few different planets. The challenge of that is to find locations and build sets to make these things look distinct and enthralling.”

“And that requires a great deal of logistics, craftsmanship, and vision. You’re trying to make a show that has to fill out a massive canvas. So, it’s a big lift but it’s fun. And because we all love Dune, we’re all in for it.”

Jordan explained how he and the writers strived to make Dune: Prophecy feel epic and yet intimate: “It starts with the scripts. When we’re breaking the stories and writing these scripts, we approach it through character first.”

“And on TV, because it’s a long-form storytelling, it gives you more real estate to get further and deeper with each of these characters. It unlocks a lot of potential about the people involved in this universe.”

“You see many sides of them, from Desmond to Mother Valya to Tula. We’re able to build that epic and intimate show because of that.”

“We’re a show that’s about the incipient stage of the Sisterhood, which then becomes the Bene Gesserit,” Jordan began when asked how the series stands out from the films. “So, we start to see how they begin to try to wrangle for power and control. We’re seeing them from the inside out.”

“We’re seeing all their moves, all their schemes going on. But we’re also seeing how they train people to become part of the Sisterhood. So, you’re getting a lot of good insight into that.”

“In terms of the themes, we lock up to a lot of the themes because the Dune universe is based on very solid motifs throughout. The questions of what a hero is, the moral ambiguity, power, corruption, all that stuff. It’s all in there.”

What is definitely not ambiguous is the rise of Travis as a Hollywood star, the latest in a long line of Australian actors who found success in America.

It has been written that Travis plans to return to farm life once he is done with Tinseltown. But at the rate his career is booming, it may be a long time before Travis settles on a peaceful ranch life. – Rappler.com

HBO Original drama series “Dune: Prophecy’ premiered on HBO and Max, a brand new streaming experience, on November 19. All subsequent new episodes of the six-episode series continue every Monday.