Dune: Prophecy—Mean Girls, with swords, mysticism, and sand (trailer).
Dune fans, if the 2021 Dune film left you craving more sand, spice, and political intrigue, then Dune: Prophecy is about to roll up on HBO (or Max, or whatever they’re calling it this week) to satisfy those cravings—except, we’re jumping 10,000 years into the past. That’s right, before Paul Atreides, before the epic wars for Arrakis, there were… well, two Harkonnen sisters founding a mysterious all-female cult. Because obviously, every universe needs a backstory that involves a powerful sisterhood.
So what’s the deal? Dune: Prophecy is all about the origins of the Bene Gesserit, those iconic, whispery women who seem to know everything before it happens. And sure, Dune made them seem spooky and omnipotent, but before they became the queens of cryptic one-liners, they were just starting out. This prequel series takes us to the beginning—back to when Valya (Emily Watson) and Tula Harkonnen (Olivia Williams) were trying to make the Bene Gesserit a thing, and apparently having to fight off some universe-threatening forces to do it.
The Sisterhood is Strong (And Dramatic)
If you’re expecting a chill, laid-back origin story about a bunch of women hanging out and learning the “weirding way,” think again. Dune: Prophecy promises to be a power struggle between political factions, galactic dynasties, and, naturally, a bit of good old-fashioned family drama. Valya and Tula are the headlining sisters of the show, and if the surname “Harkonnen” is ringing alarm bells, well, that’s probably intentional. Forget the cackling evil of Baron Harkonnen from Dune, though—these sisters have loftier goals, like founding a mystical order of women that will eventually bend the galaxy to their will (but in a very secretive, mysterious way).
Not to mention, the show promises us Empresses, princesses, and powerful acolytes all wrapped up in plots that would make even the most conniving of Game of Thrones characters blush. We’ve got Empress Natalya (played by the always-fantastic Jodhi May), a ruler who’s managed to unite thousands of worlds (because two or three isn’t impressive enough, obviously). There’s also Princess Ynez (Sarah-Sofie Boussnina), who’s trying to balance a golden throne with existential pressure. It’s space politics, people, but with more mysticism and a lot more secrets whispered in dark rooms. Expect drama, tension, and maybe someone getting mysteriously poisoned—because what would Dune be without that?
Menacing Men in the Background (And Probably Plotting)
But wait, there are also some men hanging around this galactic drama, and they’re not just there to look confused. Travis Fimmel plays Desmond Hart, a charismatic soldier with an “enigmatic past.” Translation: expect him to have at least one big secret that will probably come out at the most inconvenient moment. Mark Strong, as Emperor Javicco Corrino, is ruling over the Imperium with the kind of intensity only Strong can deliver—plus, his son Constantine (Josh Heuston) will likely bring daddy issues into the mix.
Meanwhile, Chris Mason’s Keiran Atreides shows up as a Swordmaster with ambitions and, wait for it, a forbidden connection with a royal family member. Forbidden romance? In my Dune? You bet. The galaxy might be in danger, but hey, what’s a little star-crossed romance between sword fights?
A School for Acolytes? Expect Drama
We’ll also be heading to the Bene Gesserit training grounds, where the show will give us a look at how the sausage is made—where women are trained to become the cold-blooded manipulators we know and love. There’s Sister Jen (Faoileann Cunningham), who is “fierce and unpredictable,” Sister Emeline (Aoife Hinds), who takes fervent religion very seriously, and Lila (Chloe Lea), the youngest of the group with a surprising amount of emotional depth for someone so young. Then there’s Sister Theodosia (Jade Anouka), who is hiding a big secret about her past.
What kind of Bene Gesserit prequel would this be if we didn’t see some brutal training montages and emotional breakdowns? Think of this as Mean Girls, but with more ritual combat and terrifying mental powers.
Behind the Scenes: It’s Been a Journey
Let’s not ignore the wild journey this show has taken to get here. Originally titled Dune: The Sisterhood, it was announced back in 2019 (remember then?) as a spin-off of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune film, with Villeneuve himself attached to direct. Since then, the show has seen more reshuffling than a deck of cards in a Vegas casino. The showrunners have come and gone (like shifting sands, if you will), directors have swapped places, and even some of the cast members were replaced (RIP Shirley Henderson’s role).
But after all the delays and drama, Dune: Prophecy is finally happening. Filming took place in Budapest and Jordan (because Dune isn’t Dune unless someone’s suffering in the desert), and the show wrapped production in December 2023. It’s been a long and dusty road, but come November 17, 2024, we’ll finally get to see the fruits of their labor—and maybe a lot of desert.
The Big Question: Will It Be the Next House of the Dragon?
Let’s be honest—HBO is probably hoping this show will be the next House of the Dragon, complete with complicated family feuds, epic battles, and dramatic alliances. But instead of dragons, we get Bene Gesserit witches-in-training and swordmasters with daddy issues. Will Dune: Prophecy live up to the hype? That remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure—it’s going to be full of political intrigue, galaxy-spanning power plays, and, of course, sand. Lots and lots of sand.
Set your calendars for November 17th, 2024, when we’ll finally get to see Dune: Prophecy and all its galactic drama unfold. And if the show doesn’t give us at least one cryptic monologue about “fear being the mind-killer,” well, we riot.