The HBO original series Dune: The Sisterhood, which will act as a precursor to Denis Villeneuve's 2021 sci-fi epic, Dune, is still in the works.
According to reports, the prequel will concentrate on the Bene Gesserit, a Dune-world, women-only political and spiritual sect that undergoes rigorous physical and mental training to attain superhuman strength and mental powers.
The series, which is set 10,000 years before the events of Frank Herbert's 1965 novel, follows sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen as they launch a campaign to combat overpowering forces that threaten humanity's existence, eventually leading to the founding of the legendary Bene Gesserit sect.
The show is taking inspiration from Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's 2012 prequel novel, Sisterhood of Dune.
First announced on June 10, 2019, as Dune: The Sisterhood, IGN is now reporting that the show has been retitled, Dune: Prophecy.
Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts were originally slated to direct and write the show's first two episodes but had to depart the television tie-in, to work on the film's sequel. After several additional creative changes, Alison Schapker (Fringe, Altered Carbon) emerged as the sole showrunner on the show.
There were also several casting changes as well, which reportedly drew the ire of Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav who infamously made a series of controversial cost-cutting moves following WB's merger with Discovery.
The production delays resulting from creative and casting changes have likely ballooned the production's budget well past its initial projections. Still, if the Dune sequel proves to be as successful as analysts predict, the show's initial difficulties will likely be forgotten.
The cast for Dune: Prophecy includes Emily Watson (Chernobyl, Equilibrium) as Valya Harkonnen, Jodhi May (The Witcher) as Empress Natalya, Olivia Williams (The Crown, Counterpart) as Tula Harkonnen, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina (The Bridge, 1864) as Princess Ynez, Aoife Hinds (Nightflyers, Normal People) as Sister Emeline, and Shalom Brune-Franklin (Great Expectations) as Mikaela.
The show also stars Chris Mason, Mark Strong (Shazam!, Kingsman: The Golden Circle), Jade Anouka (His Dark Materials), and Travis Fimmel (Vikings, Raised by Wolves).
The HBO prequel is a UK-based, union Equity production and is not affected by the ongoing Hollywood SAG-AFTRA strike against the AMPTP.
Dune: Prophecy is set to be released in Fall 2024. Dune: Part Two is currently slated to hit theaters on March 15, 2024.
Villeneuve has previously stated that he also wants to tackle Dune Messiah, the second novel in Herbert's 6-part Dune series but he's stated that a third entry depends on the box office performance of Part Two.
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