Dune fans have just been treated to a major update about the acclaimed sci-fi franchise. HBO has revealed that the spinoff series, Dune: Prophecy, is back in production.
The filming update was shared by HBO Max across its official social media pages with a video announcement featuring the main cast of Dune: Prophecy. Filming on the second season of the HBO show is set to take place in Hungary, Jordan, and Spain. The social media post also revealed that Indira Varma, Ashley Walters, and Tom Hollander have joined the Season 2 cast of Dune: Prophecy, although their roles remain undisclosed at this time. Varma is known for her roles in Game of Thrones, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Creature Commandos, while Walters last appeared in the acclaimed Netflix series Adolescence, which earned him an Emmy nomination.
As for Hollander, he most recently appeared in the third season of Monster, which focuses on Ed Gein, as Alfred Hitchcock. However, he remains perhaps best known for his role as Cutler Beckett in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, appearing in the movies Dead Man’s Chest (2006) and At World’s End (2007). The three newcomers join a returning cast that includes Emily Watson as Valya Harkonnen, Olivia Williams as Tula Harkonnen, Travis Fimmel as Desmond Hart, Jodhi May as Empress Natalya, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina as Princess Ynez, Josh Heuston as Constantine Corrino, Chloe Lea as Lila, Jade Anouka as Sister Theodosia, and Faoileann Cunningham as Sister Jen, among others.
Dune: Prophecy Is a Prequel to Denis Villeneuve’s Movies
Chani looks at Jessica in Dune: Part TwoImage via Warner Bros. Pictures
While Villeneuve is not involved in any capacity with Dune: Prophecy, the series is still set in the same universe as the filmmaker’s soon-to-be trilogy of films, taking place “10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides,” per the official synopsis. The first season followed “two Harkonnen sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind and establish the fabled sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit.” Plot details for Season 2 remain under wraps. The series as a whole is inspired by the Great Schools of Dune novel trilogy by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.
Alison Schapker serves as showrunner, writer, and executive producer on Dune: Prophecy. Diane Ademu-John co-developed the series and serves as executive producer. Anna Foerster executive produced and directed multiple episodes. Dune: Prophecy is co-produced by Max and Legendary Television, with Legendary also producing the critically and commercially successful film franchise.
Dune: Prophecy’s Season 2 production start comes as Villeneuve nears the end of principal photography on Dune: Part Three, which has been in production since July. Set to be the director’s third and final Dune movie, the threequel will be based on Frank Herbert’s 1969 novel, Dune Messiah, although how faithful an adaptation it will be remains to be seen. The movie’s casting has already made several major lore changes, leading some fans to speculate whether Part Three will also pull from Herbert’s third Dune novel, 1976’s Children of Dune.
Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin, Rebecca Ferguson, and Anya Taylor-Joy all reprise their roles from the previous two Dune movies, with Nakoa-Wolf Momoa and Ida Brooke joining the cast as Paul and Chani’s twin children Leto II and Ghanima Atreides, respectively. Robert Pattinson will also appear in the movie, although his role remains undisclosed at this time (despite rumors claiming otherwise).
Dune: Prophecy is available to stream on HBO Max.
Dune Prophecy Poster
Release Date
November 17, 2024
Showrunner
Alison Schapker
Directors
Anna Foerster
Writers
Diane Ademu-John, Kevin J. Anderson, Brian Herbert, Frank Herbert
Franchise(s)
Dune
Emily Watson
Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen
Olivia Williams
Reverend Mother Tula Harkonnen
Jodhi May
Empress Natalya Arat
