The second installment of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune franchise isn’t the only new entry into Dune‘s world coming our way. Warner Media, together with Legendary Television, is creating a tie-in series titled Dune: The Sisterhood. The show will serve as a prequel to the films and focus on the Harkonnen Sisters as they create the mysterious order of the Bene Gesserit. Villeneuve will even serve as an executive producer.
Here’s everything we know about Dune: The Sisterhood so far.
Title
The title for this Dune series is Dune: The Sisterhood.
Dune: The Sisterhood‘s Plot
We do not have too many specifics about Dune: The Sisterhood‘s plot. But, as mentioned, we do know it will serve as a prequel to the story taking place in Dune and Dune 2. A logline for the show reveals more about what we can expect:
Set within the mystical world of Dune, created by acclaimed author Frank Herbert, and 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, Dune: The Sisterhood follows the Harkonnen Sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled sect known as the Bene Gesserit.
The series synopsis for Dune: The Sisterhood feels appropriately mysterious for a show about the founding of the Bene Gesserit.
Behind the Scenes
To help cement the connection between the series and movies, Denis Villeneuve will serve as an executive producer on Dune: The Sisterhood. Meanwhile, Alison Schapker will be the showrunner and an executive producer of the series. Schapker previously worked as an executive producer on Westworld. She also had a hand in Netflix’s Altered Carbon and other series like Fringe, Lost, and Almost Human.
Additionally, Warner Media shares that “Diane Ademu-John serves as creator, writer, and executive producer. Emmy Award-winner Johan Renck will direct the premiere episode and executive produce.”
Finally, according to a release:
Academy Award-nominated writer Jon Spaihts, Scott Z. Burns, Mark Friedman and Matthew King will executive produce with Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt and Kim Herbert for the Frank Herbert estate. Kevin J. Anderson will co-produce. The series is co-produced by HBO Max and Legendary Television with Legendary also producing the film franchise that released its first installment to critical acclaim in October 2021 and garnered six Academy Awards, including Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Dune: The Sisterhood‘s Cast
So far, we’ve seen quite a few exciting casting announcements for Dune: The Sisterhood.
Emily Watson and Shirley Henderson will act as leads in the show. Watson will play the role of Valya Harkonnen. Meanwhile, Henderson will play Tula Harkonnen. Deadline notes that these are “the formidable Harkonnen Sisters, who have risen to power in the Sisterhood, a secret organization of women who will go on to become the Bene Gesserit.”
Additionally, Indira Varma will feature on Dune: The Sisterhood as well. The Obi-Wan Kenobi, Game of Thrones, and Carnival Row actress will play Empress Natalya. The character is described as “a formidable royal who united thousands of worlds in her marriage to Emperor Corrino.”
Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Faoileann Cunningham, Aoife Hinds, and Chloe Lea also joined the cast, per Deadline. The publication reveals more about these new characters, noting:
Boussnina plays Princess Ynez, an independent young princess dealing with the pressures of her responsibility as heir to the Golden Lion Throne.
Brune-Franklin portrays Mikaela, a strong-willed Fremen woman who serves the royal family while longing for a home planet she’s never known.
Cunningham is Sister Jen, a fierce, unpredictable acolyte in training at the Sisterhood School who rarely reveals her emotional core.
Hinds plays Sister Emeline, a zealous acolyte descended from a long line of martyrs, who carries fervent religion to her training at the Sisterhood.
Lea portrays Lila, the youngest acolyte at the Sisterhood School with a deep empathy beyond her years.
Vikings‘ Travis Fimmel will also be a part of the Dune: The Sisterhood cast. Fimmel will play Desmond Hart. Hart’s description reveals more about him. It notes he is “a charismatic soldier with an enigmatic past, who seeks to gain the Emperor’s trust at the expense of the Sisterhood.”
The show also recently cast a trio of actors which includes Mark Strong, Jade Anouka, and Chris Mason. Here’s who they will play:
Mark Strong plays Emperor Javicco Corrino, a man from a great line of war-time Emperors, who is called upon to govern the Imperium and manage a fragile peace.
Jade Anouka plays Sister Theodosia, a talented and ambitious acolyte at the Sisterhood who harbors a dangerous secret about her past.
Chris Mason plays Keiran Atreides, a Swordmaster to a Great House whose ambition to live up to his family name is disrupted when he forms an unexpected connection to a member of the royal family.
Finally, the most recent additions to the cast include Josh Heuston and Edward Davis, who join in recurring roles. Here are the descriptions of their characters.
Hueston will play Constantine, according to Deadline, “is the illegitimate son of the Emperor (Strong). His character is described as being ‘torn between seeking his father’s approval and his own happiness.’”
Meanwhile, Davis will play Harrow Harkonnen, who is a “rising politician from a once-great family, who harbors a strong desire to elevate his House to its former glory.
Dune: The Sisterhood‘s Release Date
Dune: The Sisterhood does not yet have a release date. However, production has officially begun.
We can’t wait to hear more about this Dune show as it continues to come to life.
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