HBO Original Series Dune: Prophecy It will first air in November.
Fans of Denis Villeneuve’s epic two-part film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel sand dune There’s no doubt that we’re excited about the upcoming HBO Max series. Dune: Prophecy. A prequel series inspired by the novel. Sisterhood of DuneExplore the origins of the Bene Gesserit, written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, and the studio just released a tantalizing teaser filled with political intrigue, ominous warnings, and a little hand-to-hand combat.
The series was first announced in 2019, with Villeneuve serving as executive producer and Alison Schapker (Alias, Fringe, Variant Carbon) will serve as showrunner. The first season will consist of six episodes, and it is unclear how closely the series will follow the source material. According to the official premise:
Set 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides. Dune: Prophecy It tells the story of the Harkonnen sisters, who fight against forces that threaten the future of humanity and create a legendary sect called the Bene Gesserit.
Emily Watson co-stars as Valya Harkonnen, the leader of the Sisterhood, and Olivia Williams is her sister, Tula Harkonnen. Mark Strong is Emperor Javico Corrino, described as “a descendant of a great line of emperors in a time of war, called to rule the empire and maintain a fragile peace”, Jodhi May is Empress Natalia, and Sarah-Sophie Busnina is Princess Inez.
The cast includes Shalom Brun-Franklin as Mikaela, a Fremen woman in service to the crown; Travis Fimmel as Desmond Hart, described as “a charismatic soldier with a mysterious past”; Chris Mason as swordsman Chiran Atreides; Josh Huston as Javico’s illegitimate son Constantin Corino; Edward Davis as rising politician Harrow Harkonnen; Taboo as Sister Francesca, the Emperor’s former mistress; Jihae as the Emperor’s truth-telling mother Kasha; Paolyn Cunningham as Sister Jen; Chloe Rea as Lila; Jade Anuka as Sister Theodosia; and Aoife Hinds as Sister Emmeline, all of whom are attendants at the Sisters’ Academy.
Power = Control
A short teaser was released at the Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront presentation in New York City in May. It was heavily expository, with a narration detailing the founding of the Sisterhood, which was assigned to the Great Houses to “help sift truth from lies.” The result was a “network of influence across the Empire… but power comes at a price.” They plan to make this happen by placing the Sisterhood on the throne and arranging marriages. However, not all of the Sisterhood are on board with the plan, and there is a warning that the Sisterhood is playing God and “we will be judged.”
This latest teaser begins with a lecture to the Sisterhood’s acolytes: “You wish to serve the great house and shape the course of power. You must first exercise power over yourself.” The Emperor seems easily swayed by the “wizard,” but the Empress is deeply offended. But the more influence the Sisterhood wields, the more enemies they make. Desmond Hart himself is suspicious of the Sisterhood, and perhaps with good reason. “Our hands are upon the levers of power, but they are still fragile in their grasp,” Valya assures her sister Tula. “I am trying to protect the Empire,” she says, “and sacrifices must be made.”
Dune: Prophecy It premieres on Max this November.
List image from HBO Max
