Dune Prophecy – More sand, more secrets, more sibling rivalry (TV series trailer).
Blimey, the Dune universe. Just when you thought you’d had your fill of spice, sandworms, and epic power struggles, along comes Dune: Prophecy. This prequel series promises to dig even deeper into the origins of the Bene Gesserit, the universe’s most exclusive sisterhood, because apparently, the existing 1965 novel and its 47 sequels and adaptations just weren’t enough. Scheduled to premiere on Max in Fall 2024, this show takes us back a whopping 10,000 years before Paul Atreides ever started brooding over the desert.
Plot: The Sibling Saga in Space
Set in a time when dinosaurs might still have roamed if they could survive in sandstorms, Dune: Prophecy follows sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen. These two aren’t just bickering over who borrowed whose clothes; they’re busy combatting forces that threaten the future of humanity while laying the groundwork for the Bene Gesserit. Think less “family drama” and more “galactic existential crisis.”
The Cast: A Roster of Heavyweights
Emily Watson stars as Valya Harkonnen, the sisterhood’s leader, bringing a gravitas that might just make you forget the original’s space opera silliness. Olivia Williams joins as Tula Harkonnen, Valya’s sister, proving that sibling rivalry transcends time and space. With a supporting cast that includes Jodhi May as Empress Natalya, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina as Princess Ynez, and Travis Fimmel as the enigmatic soldier Desmond Hart, we’re clearly in for some top-tier performances.
Production: A Saga in Itself
This series didn’t just appear out of a sandstorm. No, its development was almost as complex as the plot of a Herbert novel. Legendary Entertainment snagged the rights back in 2016, and by 2019, the wheels were finally in motion. After a revolving door of showrunners and directors, Alison Schapker took the reins, with Anna Foerster directing multiple episodes. Filming began in November 2022 in Budapest and Jordan, because where better to emulate a desert planet than an actual desert?
The Bene Gesserit: Because Space Needs More Mystical Orders
The Bene Gesserit have always been a mysterious bunch, with their intense training, mental conditioning, and general aura of “we know something you don’t.” This series aims to pull back the curtain on their origins, potentially answering questions fans didn’t even know they had. Denis Villeneuve, who directed the 2021 Dune film, described the Bene Gesserit as “fascinating,” which is Hollywood code for “we think we can milk this for a few more seasons.”
A Prequel to a Prequel’s Prequel
Dune: Prophecy isn’t just riding on the coattails of Villeneuve’s Dune. It’s an ambitious attempt to expand the universe in ways that may or may not involve convoluted plots and long monologues about destiny and power. With a setting 10,000 years in the past, the series promises to delve into the political and personal machinations that set the stage for the epic struggles of the original novels.
Coming Soon to a Screen Near You
Mark your calendars for Fall 2024, when Dune: Prophecy hits Max. Prepare yourself for another deep dive into the sands of Arrakis, where the stakes are high, the politics are Byzantine, and the sisterhood is deadlier than ever. And remember, in this universe, the spice must flow—even if it’s through yet another prequel series. So, grab your stillsuit, ready your mental conditioning, and get set for a journey back to the distant, dusty past of Dune. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that you can never have too many tales of interstellar intrigue and oversized worms.
