The Dune TV series has had its ups and downs when it comes to its production. In June 2019, Legendary Television confirmed a complete series order for Dune: The Sisterhood, which was produced for HBO Max. The series was initially planned to start filming on November 2, 2020, in Budapest and Jordan. However, production officially kicked off on November 22, 2022, under the working title Dune: The Sisterhood. In July 2023, Deadline Hollywood revealed that production was poised to start once again in Budapest despite the WGA and SAG strikes, prompted by the series’ talent operating under the UK-based union Equity. And finally, after more than five years into this saga, we now have the title Dune: The Prophecy confirmed for Fall 2024, along with six episodes, with the first three being titled.
Dune: The Prophecy Production Timeline
IMDB lists six episodes for the first season of the series, with the first three titled The Hidden Hand, Two Wolves, and Sisterhood Above All. Wikipedia states that in October 2022, Emily Watson, Shirley Henderson, Indira Varma, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Faoileann Cunningham, Aoife Hinds, and Chloe Lea were announced as part of the series’ cast. Travis Fimmel joined the ensemble the following month. Then, on December 1, 2022, Mark Strong, Jade Anouka, and Chris Mason were confirmed to star in significant roles. Josh Heuston and Edward Davis were later added to the cast in recurring roles during the same month. However, with then-Director Johan Renck’s departure in February 2023, Henderson also exited her role. In June, Olivia Williams was cast to replace Henderson, while Jodhi May was brought in to replace Varma, who had to leave the series due to scheduling conflicts.
According to Dunes News Net, there has been a change within the crew. Composer Jónsi is no longer part of the project, and instead, the TV show’s soundtrack will be composed by Volker Bertelmann. Bertelmann is recognized for his work on films such as One Life, All Quiet on the Western Front, and Lion. Given that both artists are represented by Allegro Talent Group, it’s conceivable that this adjustment was merely due to scheduling conflicts.
What a wild rollercoaster for the pre-production time of the series!
What is Dune: Prophecy About?
The synopsis currently reads “Set 10,000 years before the events of the 1965 novel Dune, the series follows sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled sect known as the Bene Gesserit.”
Dune: Prophecy is a science fiction television series set within the expansive universe created by Frank Herbert, intended for the streaming service Max. This series delves into the origins of the Bene Gesserit, an exclusive and formidable sisterhood known for their rigorous physical and mental training to acquire superhuman abilities. It unfolds approximately 10,000 years before the events depicted in Herbert’s classic novel “Dune” (1965) and functions as a prequel to Denis Villeneuve’s cinematic adaptation “Dune” (2021). Legendary Television is producing the series, with Alison Schapker taking on the roles of showrunner, writer, and executive producer.
The series is set to premiere on Max in late 2024. Stay tuned for more updates.
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