The American science fiction television show Dune: Prophecy was created for HBO by Diane Ademu-John and Alison Schapker. The show is set in Frank Herbert's Dune universe and revolves around the formation of the Bene Gesserit, a powerful social, religious, and political force whose members have had years of intense mental and physical training to develop superhuman skills and abilities.
Dune: Prophecy is a prequel set some 10,000 years before the events of Denis Villeneuve's Dune and Dune: Part Two. It is based on but takes place after Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's Great Schools of Dune novel trilogy, published between 2012 and 2016. There are multiple directors for the science fiction television series.
With largely positive feedback, Dune: Prophecy's first season debuted on November 17, 2024. The sixth episode is scheduled to air on December 22, 2024, marking the season’s conclusion.
Directors of Dune: Prophecy
Anna Foerster
American film and television cinematographer and director Anna J. Foerster was born in Germany in 1971. Her work with filmmaker Roland Emmerich is her most well-known; she has contributed in various roles to all of his films since Independence Day (1996), except The Patriot (2000). She directed episodes 1, 5, and 6 of Dune: Prophecy.
Richard J. Lewis
Richard J. Lewis is a filmmaker and television figure from Canada. Lewis was the writer, director, and co-executive producer for the 2002–2009 seasons of the CBS television crime drama series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He is most renowned for his work on the HBO series Westworld and for directing the movies Whale Music (1994) and Barney's Version (2010), the latter of which starred Paul Giamatti, who won a Golden Globe. He directed episodes 3 and 4 of Dune: Prophecy.
John Cameron
John Cameron is from Detroit, Michigan, USA. Some of his notable works as a producer and director are Fargo (2014), Severance (2022), and Dune: Prophecy (2024). He directed episode 2 of Dune: Prophecy.
Dune: Prophecy production and development
In 2016, Legendary Entertainment acquired the television and film rights to the Dune book series, and by 2017, it was working on a two-part film version directed by Denis Villeneuve. In 2019, the series was ordered by Legendary Television as a spin-off from Villeneuve's movies. By 2019, many creatives had joined, and by June 2023, Schapker was the show-runner with Anna Foerster directing several episodes after creative overhauls.
Meanwhile, casting happened between November 2022 and June 2023. In Jordan and Budapest, principal photography started in November 2022 and ended in December 2023.
What is Dune: Prophecy about?
Ten thousand years before the events of Dune, the story follows sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen as they battle forces that endanger the prospects of mankind, and establish the legendary sect known as the Bene Gesserit.
FAQs about Dune: Prophecy
Dune: Prophecy is the prequel to Denis Villeneuve's Dune and Dune: Part Two, and takes place around 10,000 years before the events of the original Dune movie. It is inspired by but takes place after Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's Great Schools of Dune novel trilogy, published between 2012 and 2016.
Viewers can watch Dune: Prophecy on HBO and Max. It is also available on Prime Video in many regions.
The main character in Dune: Prophecy is Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen, who was first played by Jessica Barden and later by Emily Watson.
