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Mystery and anticipation surround Dune: Prophecy, Max’s upcoming series set in the world of Frank Herbert’s Dune. At this year’s New York Comic Con, the show’s release date and trailer were unveiled, followed by an insightful conversation with Collider’s Steve Weintraub.
The discussion featured stars Olivia Williams, Emily Watson, and Travis Fimmel alongside showrunner Alison Schapker and executive producer Jordan Goldberg, revealing new details about the show’s scope and direction.
Alison Schapker set the stage, describing the show as an origin story for the Bene Gesserit, 10,000 years before the events of Villeneuve’s Dune films. “This show is about the origin of the Bene Gesserit,” she explained. “We’re set 10,000 years before the film…in the shadow of The Great Machine Wars. Humans have defeated artificial intelligence, thinking machines are banned, and humanity is rebuilding. We sometimes joke that it’s the Dark Ages of Dune.”
The series follows two sisters from the Harkonnen family, Valya (Watson) and Tula (Williams), as they navigate trauma and ambition on a path “to try and control the destiny of humankind.” For Williams, the story resonates deeply: “I just love that it’s about two families, each one wanting to control a piece of land, and the consequences go on for thousands of years.” Watson added, “It was reading the story…a really, really tasty, delicious, complicated mess of a dish…because the Harkonnens are a very, very messed up family.”
Origo Studios in Hungary, the home base for Villeneuve’s Dune films, returns as the primary filming location, offering continuity and scale for the series. The sets, reportedly still intact from previous productions, have become an essential element, allowing the “Dune: Prophecy” team to fully realize the vast world of Herbert’s universe. “They haven’t destroyed the set in Hungary, so that’s always a good sign,” Williams noted, hinting at the long-term vision for the series.
Discussing the show’s multi-season potential, Schapker confirmed they have a detailed plan: “We do have a plan, and they’ve been eager to hear all of it.” Goldberg highlighted the studio’s support, noting, “They want it character-driven…thought-provoking, and just asked us to constantly make it surprising, propulsive, and visually breathtaking.”
With “Dune: Prophecy” set to premiere on Max on November 17, the series promises to delve into the origins of the Bene Gesserit, inviting audiences back to Origo Studios’ intricate sets to explore new depths of the Dune universe.
Source: Collider
