In 2021, the classic science fiction novel Dune by Frank Herbert was brought to life. Director Denis Villeneuve made it happen with his film, Dune. Villeneuve’s version became a great success, capturing the story’s depth, something previous attempts had failed to do.
One of the smartest things Villeneuve did was split the book into two movies. This gave the story and characters enough time to develop properly. Dune: Part Two became one of the top movies in 2024, and soon after, a third movie, Dune: Messiah, was announced.
The first spin-off from Dune will be a prequel series on Max called Dune: Prophecy. This series, originally titled Dune: The Sisterhood, will focus on the rise of the Bene Gesserit, a powerful group in the Dune universe. Here’s everything we know about the series.
When and Where Will Dune: Prophecy Come Out?
A Dune spin-off has been in the works at HBO since 2019, even before the 2021 release of the Dune movie. On November 22, 2022, former director Johan Renck said that production had started, stating: “Through events that happened thousands of years before the story you all know, we look into the group that will one day be known as the Bene Gesserit.”
Since then, Renck left the project and was replaced by Anna Foerster. However, the series is still scheduled to be released in November 2024.
Does Dune: Prophecy Have a Trailer Yet?
The story of Dune: Prophecy is set many years before Paul Muad’dib Atreides was born. It focuses on a sisterhood that aims to change the future. The first trailer for the series shows us Frank Herbert’s Dune in a new way, unlike anything we’ve seen before.
What Is the Plot of Dune: Prophecy?
The universe of Dune is incredibly vast, with stories spreading across the universe and covering thousands of years. Frank Herbert’s novels created one of the most detailed fictional worlds, similar to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth.
The story of Dune: Prophecy takes place around 10,000 years before the events of Dune and the birth of Paul Atreides, the prophesied Kwisatz Haderach.
The series takes inspiration from the book Sisterhood of Dune, written by Frank Herbert’s son Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. This book is set after the Butlerian Jihad, an event that destroyed all computers and intelligent machines.
The story follows Griffin and Valya Harkonnen, the eldest children of the Harkonnen family, as they work to rebuild their family name and fortune. Eventually, they help form the Bene Gesserit, the powerful group known throughout the universe.
In Dune, the Bene Gesserit is a major force. They are a secretive group that carefully plans and manipulates events to control their future and have a big influence on politics and power in the universe.
In the first Dune movie, we see Villeneuve’s portrayal of the Bene Gesserit through the characters of the Reverend Mother (played by Charlotte Rampling) and Paul’s mother, Lady Jessica (played by Rebecca Ferguson). The new series will show the origins of the Bene Gesserit and expand their story.
Here is the official synopsis of the show released by Max:
“Set 10,000 years before the rise of Paul Atreides, the hero of the 1965 novel Dune, the series follows two Harkonnen sisters as they fight against forces threatening humanity’s future and form the legendary group known as the Bene Gesserit.”
Who Is in the Cast of Dune: Prophecy?
One of the biggest strengths of the Dune movie was its talented cast, and Dune: Prophecy is continuing with a similar approach by assembling an impressive cast.
Emily Watson, known for her roles in Chernobyl and Punch-Drunk Love, will play Valya Harkonnen, a strong woman rising in power within the Bene Gesserit. Jodhi May (The Witcher) will play Empress Natalya, who unites thousands of worlds through her marriage to the Emperor.
Mark Strong (Shazam! and Sherlock Holmes) will play Emperor Javicco Corrino, a ruler descended from powerful European leaders who govern the Imperium during a period of unrest. Travis Fimmel (Vikings) will portray a charismatic warrior who seeks to gain the Emperor’s trust, even if it means going against the Sisterhood.
Olivia Williams (The Sixth Sense) will play Tula Harkonnen, an early member of both the Harkonnen family and the Bene Gesserit.
Other actors like Jade Anouka, Chris Mason, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Faoileann Cunningham, Aoife Hinds, and Chloe Lea will also have important roles in the series.
Shirley Henderson (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker) and Indira Varma (Game of Thrones) were originally cast to play Tula Harkonnen and Empress Natalya, but both left the project in early 2023.
Who Is Making Dune: Prophecy?
Denis Villeneuve’s vision for Dune is remarkable. His influence will continue with Dune: Prophecy, as he will return as an executive producer on the show. Production on the series has seen some challenges, with several people leaving the project.
Diane Ademu-John (Empire, The Originals) and Alison Schapker (Lost, Westworld) initially led the project as showrunners. However, Ademu-John left the show in November 2022, leaving Schapker as the only showrunner. Johan Renck (Chernobyl, Breaking Bad) was originally supposed to direct the first two episodes but left in February 2023.
HBO provided the following statement about Renck’s departure to Variety:
“There are some creative changes being made to the production to ensure the best series possible and to stay true to the source material. Johan Renck has completed his work on the series, and a new director will be brought on. By mutual agreement, Johan is moving on to pursue other projects.”
We don’t know yet how much of Renck’s work will be used in the final series, but we do know that Anna Foerster is directing several episodes. The series is now in post-production and is still on track to be released later this year.
