Sisterhood Above All

''Dune: Prophecy'' is an American science fiction television series developed by Diane Ademu-John and Alison Schapker, with Schapker serving as showrunner and writer. Set in Frank Herbert's ''Dune'' universe, the series focuses on the origins of the Bene Gesserit, a powerful social, religious, and political force whose members possess superhuman powers and abilities after undergoing years of intense physical and mental conditioning. ''Dune: Prophecy'' is a prequel to the Denis Villeneuve films ''Dune'' and '' Dune: Part Two'', taking place approximately 10,000 years earlier. It draws upon, but is set after, the ''Great Schools of Dune'' novel trilogy (2012–2016) by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.

During Legendary Entertainment's 2016 acquisition of the television and film rights to the ''Dune'' book series, it began development of a two-part film adaptation with Denis Villeneuve serving as director by 2017. Legendary Television ordered the series in 2019 as a spin-off project from Villeneuve's films. Various creative figures joined by 2019, and following creative overhauls, Schapker became the show-runner with Anna Foerster as director for multiple episodes by June 2023. Meanwhile, casting took place from November 2022 to June 2023. Principal photography began in November 2022 in Budapest and Jordan, and wrapped in December 2023.

''Dune: Prophecy'' premiered on HBO on November 17, 2024 to mostly positive reviews. The series was renewed for a second season in December 2024.

Plot

Set 10,000 years before the events of ''Dune'', ''Dune: Prophecy'' commences 80 years after an alliance of humans defeated the thinking machine armies that had nearly exterminated them. Sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen struggle to maintain the power and influence of the Sisterhood, and combat forces that threaten the future of humanity.

The story sheds light on the origins of the Sisterhood (later known as Bene Gesserit), their rise to power and influence in the Imperium, as well as their personal struggles, conflicts, and battle against a prophesied enemy, while at the same time delving into key historical aspects of the ''Dune'' universe, such as the roots of the Harkonnen and Atreides families.

Cast and characters

Main

* Emily Watson as Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen, leader of the Sisterhood
** Jessica Barden as Young Valya, an ambitious, stubborn and forceful woman who "dreams of restoring her family's noble status."
* Olivia Williams as Reverend Mother Tula Harkonnen, Valya's biological sister and close ally.
** Emma Canning as Young Tula
* Travis Fimmel as Desmond Hart, "a charismatic soldier with an enigmatic past, who seeks to gain the Emperor's trust at the expense of the Sisterhood."
* Jodhi May as Empress Natalya, "a formidable royal who united thousands of worlds in her marriage to Emperor aviccoCorrino."
* Sarah-Sofie Boussnina as Princess Ynez, "an independent young princess dealing with the pressures of her responsibility as heir to the Golden Lion Throne."
* Chloe Lea as Sister Lila, "the youngest acolyte at the Sisterhood School with a deep empathy beyond her years."
* Chris Mason as Keiran Atreides, Swordmaster of House Corrino
* Shalom Brune-Franklin as Mikaela, "a strong-willed Fremen woman who serves the royal family while longing for a home planet she's never known."
* Mark Strong as Padishah Emperor Javicco Corrino, "a man from a great line of war-time Emperors, who is called upon to govern the Imperium and manage a fragile peace."
* Jade Anouka as Sister Theodosia, "a talented and ambitious acolyte at the Sisterhood who harbors a dangerous secret about her past."
* Edward Davis as Harrow Harkonnen, a "rising politician from a once-great family, who harbors a strong desire to elevate his House to its former glory."
* Josh Heuston as Constantine Corrino, the illegitimate son of Javicco who is "torn between seeking his father's approval and his own happiness."
* Faoileann Cunningham as Sister Jen, "a fierce, unpredictable acolyte in training at the Sisterhood School who rarely reveals her emotional core."
* Aoife Hinds as Sister Emeline, "a zealous acolyte descended from a long line of martyrs, who carries fervent religion to her training at the Sisterhood."

Recurring

* Barbara Marten as Sister Avila, an aide to Valya and Tula
** Sarah Oliver-Watts as Young Avila, one of Dorotea's followers
* Camilla Beeput as Reverend Mother Dorotea, a pious Reverend Mother and Raquella's granddaughter

Guest

* Jihae as Reverend Mother Kasha Jinjo, the Emperor's Truthsayer, whose loyalty to the Sisterhood is challenged
** Yerin Ha as Young Kasha
* Cathy Tyson as Mother Superior Raquella Berto-Anirul, founder of the Sisterhood
* Brendan Cowell as Duke Ferdinand Richese
* Hannah Khalique-Brown as Sister Farouz, an acolyte with an eye for Constantine Corrino
* Flora Montgomery as Reverend Mother Vera, Truthsayer of House Richese
* Laura Howard as Duchess Orla Richese
* Tessa Bonham Jones as Lady Shannon Richese
* Charlie Hodson-Prior as Lord Pruwet Richese
* Sam Spruell as Horace, a member of a rebellion against the Great Houses
* Karima McAdams as Sister Nazir, a Suk doctor previously trained by the Sisterhood
* Mark Addy as Evgeny Harkonnen, Valya and Tula's uncle
* Polly Walker as Sonia Harkonnen, Valya and Tula's mother
* Earl Cave as Griffin Harkonnen, Valya and Tula's brother
* Milo Callaghan as Orry Atreides
* David Bark-Jones as Vergyl Harkonnen, Valya and Tula's father
* Archie Barnes as Albert, the only survivor of Tula's massacre of the Atreides
* Tanya Moodie as the Voice of Anirul, the Sisterhood's secret artificial intelligence
* Lucy Russell as the Truthsayer of House Gbangbala
* Sarah Lam as the Truthsayer of House Hagal
* Nicola Alexis as the Truthsayer of House Yaofirks
* Tabu as Sister Francesca, a powerful Sister, the Emperor's former lover and Constantine's mother, whose return to the palace "strains the balance of power in the capital."
** Charithra Chandran as Young Francesca

Episodes

Production

Development

In November 2016, Legendary Entertainment had acquired the film and television rights for the 1965 novel ''Dune'' by Frank Herbert from his estate. Legendary eventually contacted Denis Villeneuve to direct a two-part film adaptation of the novel by the next month, and was confirmed as director by February 2017. Legendary Television announced a full series order of ''Dune: The Sisterhood'' in June 2019, produced for WarnerMedia's then-streaming service HBO Max. The series would focus on the Bene Gesserit order and serve as a prequel to Villeneuve's 2021 film ''Dune'', based on material from ''Dune'' and the 2012 prequel novel ''Sisterhood of Dune'' by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Villeneuve was set to direct and produce the series' pilot with Jon Spaihts writing the screenplay. Both would serve as executive producers alongside Byron Merritt, Kim Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, and Herbert's son, Brian. Villeneuve said, "The Bene Gesserit have always been fascinating to me. Focusing a series around that powerful order of women seemed not only relevant and inspiring but a dynamic setting for the television series."

Shortly after its announcement, the project received criticism for its lack of female creatives except for Herbert's granddaughter, Kim Herbert. Dana Calvo was hired in July 2019 to serve as showrunner alongside Spaihts. In November 2019, Spaihts left the series to focus on '' Dune: Part Two'' (2024). ''The Hollywood Reporter'' reported that Legendary Television was "not happy" with Spaihts's early work as showrunner and opted to remove him. Diane Ademu-John had been hired as the new showrunner by July 2021. As production of ''Dune: Part Two'' progressed, Villeneuve was no longer able to direct and was replaced by Johan Renck as director for the first two episodes in April 2022. Shortly after production began, Diane Ademu-John had exited the project as co-showrunner but remained the executive producer; this left Alison Schapker as the sole showrunner. In February 2023, Renck also exited the project, resulting in the project being on hiatus. He was replaced that June by Anna Foerster, who would direct multiple episodes, including the pilot. In November 2023, the series was retitled ''Dune: Prophecy'' and set to release on Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming service, Max. In November 2024, Schapker explained that the series would explore multiple time periods, with the characters' pasts adapted from the ''Great Schools of Dune'' novel trilogy, and the present timeline original to the television series. In December 2024, HBO renewed the series for a second season.

Casting

In October 2022, Emily Watson, Shirley Henderson, Indira Varma, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Faoileann Cunningham, Aoife Hinds, and Chloe Lea were cast to star in the series. Travis Fimmel joined the cast the following month. On December 1, 2022, Mark Strong, Jade Anouka, and Chris Mason joined the cast in starring roles. Josh Heuston and Edward Davis would join in recurring roles later that month. During Renck's exit in February 2023, Henderson had also left. In June, Olivia Williams was cast to replace Henderson, with Jodhi May cast to replace Varma, who exited the series due to scheduling conflicts. In May 2024, it was announced that Tabu had joined the cast of the series as Sister Francesca, Jihae was cast as Reverend Mother Kasha, the Emperor's Truthsayer, and Jessica Barden was cast as the younger version of Valya. The younger versions of Tula, Francesca and Kasha are portrayed by Emma Canning, Charithra Chandran and Yerin Ha, respectively. Mark Addy plays Evgeny Harkonnen, Valya and Tula's uncle.

Filming

The series was originally scheduled to start filming on November 2, 2020, in Budapest and Jordan. It began production on November 22, 2022, under the working title ''Dune: The Sisterhood'', with Renck confirming the start on his Instagram account. In July 2023, ''Deadline Hollywood'' reported that, following a winter hiatus, production was set to resume in Budapest amidst the WGA and SAG strikes due to the series' talent working under the UK-based union Equity. Filming had concluded by December 2023, with Pierre Gill having served as lead cinematographer. Gill did not use the StageCraft virtual production technology, which he had previously utilized in the television series ''Percy Jackson and the Olympians'', as the production primarily relied on practical sets and production values.

Music

Jónsi was originally hired to compose the show's score. However, by October 2023, Volker Bertelmann was set to compose the score for the series.

Marketing

Max released a teaser trailer for the series on May 15, 2024. A second teaser was released on July 18, 2024. On October 17, 2024, the official trailer was unveiled during a panel at New York Comic Con.

Release

Originally to premiere on the streaming service Max, ''Dune: Prophecy'' was rebranded as an HBO Original in July 2024 and was released on Max and HBO on November 17, 2024.

Reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 70% approval rating with an average rating of 6.4/10, based on 91 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Grounded by reliably terrific performances from Emily Watson and Olivia Williams, ''Dune: Prophecy'' lacks the spice of Denis Villeneuve's films but compensates with addictively perilous palace intrigue." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 64 out of 100 based on 34 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.

The premiere of ''Dune: Prophecy'' drew 1.2 million U.S. viewers across platforms, with the audience growing another 75% the following day, bringing the total to 2.1 million viewers.

As of December 19, 2024, the number of viewers surpassed 10 million, when "according to HBO, the premiere episode of the series raked in about 15 million viewers across Max's covered territories".

Awards and nominations

References

External links

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{{HBONetwork Shows

2020s American drama television series
2020s American science fiction television series
2024 American television series debuts
American prequel television series
American English-language television shows
HBO television dramas
Television series by Home Box Office
Television series by Legendary Television
Television series by Warner Bros. Television Studios
Television series set on fictional planets
Television shows based on Dune (franchise)
Television shows filmed in Budapest
Television shows filmed in Jordan
Television shows set in deserts