Dune Prophecy: Plot & Everything We Know about the New Project in the Denis Villeneuve Universe

In November, Max will release a prequel to the Dune duology – a series subtitled Prophecy. First announced in 2019, the project has taken a long time to reach the screen, during which time some of the creators, actors and even the name have changed.

We tell you what is known about the upcoming series and what to expect from the release.

What Will Dune: Prophecy Be About?

Prophecy will tell a story that takes place 10 thousand years before the birth of the main character of the novel Dune and its adaptation – Paul Atreides. The plot will focus on the Bene Gesserit order during its formation.

People have recently survived a terrible war with artificial intelligence, nicknamed the Butlerian Jihad. As a result of the conflict that engulfed the entire galaxy, a new principle was proclaimed, which later became fundamental, that men could not be replaced.

According to this rule, the two Harkonnen sisters build their order. One of them, Valya (an ancestor of Vladimir Harkonnen), uses her power and influence not only to prevent the collapse of human civilization, but also to take revenge on the House Atreides. In her eyes, that family is guilty of all the Harkonnens' troubles.

The story will also feature the planet Arrakis, the Imperial House Corrino, and many other elements of Frank Herbert's universe familiar from the feature film adaptations.

Dune: Prophecy's Main Cast

Emily Watson and Olivia Williams played the roles of the two sisters, Valya and Tula Harkonnen. Shirley Henderson (Moaning Myrtle from Harry Potter) was originally cast as the second sister, but she eventually left the project.

Jodhi May and Mark Strong played the Corrinos. May, who played Empress Natalya, replaced Indira Varma, who was originally cast in the role. Varma left the series due to a busy schedule with other projects.

What to Expect from the Show?

Dune has traditionally been considered difficult material for a film adaptation. In general, it can be said that Denis Villeneuve has mastered this difficult task.

But a big-budget blockbuster reminiscent of an ancient tragedy, showing that some movies are really better seen on the big screen, is one thing. A series spin-off created for streaming platforms is quite another.

Of course, the images of the universe created by Frank Herbert have become an integral part of popular culture over the years. And as the trailer showed, the creators of the series did not miss the opportunity to show the audience worms and Arrakis with its spice once again.

Dune: Prophecy Release Date & Streaming

The first episode of Dune: Prophecy will air on Max on November 17th.