What ‘Dune: Prophecy’ Means for the Future of the Franchise
What ‘Dune: Prophecy’ Means for the Future of the Franchise
Feature art by Joaquin Prudente
Serving as a prequel series, Dune: Prophecy explores the origins of the Bene Gesserit—a powerful sisterhood with social, political, and religious influence through supernatural abilities through physical and mental conditioning. Set 10,000 years before the rise of Paul Atreides, the story focuses on sisters Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen (Emily Watson) and Tula Harkonnen (Olivia Williams) as they fight to shape the future of humankind.
Spinoffs for successful movie franchises (or even those clinging to fan demand) aren’t new. Television can add to the lore-building and offers an opportunity for the franchise to reinvigorate itself. In the case of the Dune, hitting a gold mine with a universally loved artistic version from one Denis Villeneuve, these new adaptations and iterations are here to stay.
The Sisterhood in Dune Prophecy
In 2019, Dune: Prophecy received a full series order from Legendary Television under the title Dune: The Sisterhood. Villeneuve was even set to produce and direct the pilot, with Jon Spaihts writing the teleplay. Villeneuve has always been eager to tell the story of the Bene Gesserit, and a television series is fitting for exploring and expanding different timelines in this universe. However, his commitment to Dune: Part Two will ultimately keep him from realizing that dream.
Despite the lack of female creatives on the team, showrunners being replaced, and creatives exiting the project, Dune: Prophecy finally premiered on Max in November of this year. The first episode may not have the same visual splendor as Villeneuve’s films, but the aesthetics and world-building are consistent, though adapted to fit the television space.
Back to the prequels
The pilot is far from perfect, with the idea of a Dune story told in the audio-visual medium ingrained as having a level of gravitas and spectacle. We are introduced to new characters, though familiar names like Harkonnen and Atreides still resonate. With Emily Watson and Olivia Williams taking center stage as the Harkonnen sisters of the Bene Gesserit, it’s intriguing to see them in the spotlight, when they were scheming on the sidelines in the Dune films.
Emily Watson and Olivia Williams as Valya and Tula Harkonnen respectively in Dune: Prophecy
Retracing the past and uncovering parts of Dune's vast history in the grand scheme of things, I can’t help but compare Dune: Prophecy to other prequel series, such as Smallville and Krypton (from the Superman franchise), Gotham and Pennyworth (from the Batman franchise), and Bates Motel (from the Psycho franchise), to name a few. Much like these prequels, Prophecy grapples with fleshing out a rich prequel story worthy of extended runtimes in the television medium. There has to be a balance between introducing originality and showing what’s already familiar to the audience.
The Dune franchise isn’t new to the small screen, with Frank Herbert’s Dune, an adaptation of the 1965 novel, and Frank Herbert's Children of Dune, adapting Dune Messiah and Children of Dune, both airing on the Sci-Fi Channel in the early aughts. Apart from catering to its fans, the world-building duties, and character development—there’s much to unpack with going back to the past to make way for the future. The origins of the Bene Gesserit may not have the appeal some might expect, but given their minor yet impactful roles in the films, I believe there’s some gravity to their place in the franchise.
Mark Strong as Emperor Javicco Corrino in Dune: Prophecy
In the first episode, the Harkonnen sisters join the Sisterhood, training as Truthsayers to serve the Great Houses. Mother Superior Raquella Berto-Anirul (Cathy Tyson), the Sisterhood's founder, dies after foreseeing a tyrannical disaster. A young Valya Harkonnen (Jessica Barden) then uses the Voice to force Dorotea (Camilla Beeput), Raquella's granddaughter and successor, to kill herself to protect the Sisterhood's breeding program. This reveals how cunning and calculated Valya can be.
Thirty years pass, Valya, now Mother Superior, arranges for Princess Ynez (Sarah-Sofie Boussnina), daughter of Emperor Javicco Corrino (Mark Strong), to marry the nine-year-old Lord Pruwet Richese (Charlie Hodson-Prior) to strengthen the control of the Corrino empire over the desert planet Arrakis. This moment had us in the watch party turning our heads, but more on how the series has more freedom to tackle such topics.
The state of the franchise
It’s too early to call success given how fresh the episode drops are. Streaming viewership is definitely the main focus for executives and higher-ups before greenlighting a second season. Taking Dune: Prophecy’s first episode at face value, which ends on a hook that sets the stage for the rest of the season, there’s great potential to develop the Dune franchise on the small screen.
Jihae as Reverend Mother Kasha Jinjo in Dune: Prophecy
From the perspective of a casual fan and seeing characters and actors not named Paul Atreides, Timothée Chalamet, Chani, and Zendaya, Dune: Prophecy is a worthwhile experience. Focusing on lesser-known characters gives a fresh take on the Dune universe, exploring new aspects while still staying connected to its legacy.
Whether you're a diehard fan or just entering into the vast desert, there's plenty of Dune to keep you engaged.
‘Dune: Prophecy’ is now streaming on Max.
