Is Dune: Prophecy canon? Details about the TV show, explained in depth

Dune: Prophecy - Sydney Premiere - Source: Getty
Dune: Prophecy - Sydney Premiere - Source: Getty

The winds of Arrakis are bringing a new story, and the inevitable question hangs in the air—Is Dune: Prophecy canon? The answer changes depending on how you look at it. Within Denis Villeneuve's cinematic universe, Dune: Prophecy shows what happened long before Paul Atreides was born, when Arrakis was still being shaped by the forces that would determine its future, connecting to the first two films and explaining how Arrakis started to become the planet we know.

The series enters the field of Arrakis' roots, more than just complementing what we already know; it turns the soil, bringing to the surface what is hidden in the depths. It's not a mere introduction to past events but an invitation to explore the shadows that shape what is yet to come. Each power movement and each silent action prepares the ground for what the Dune galaxy would become—even before Paul's arrival.

However, looking at Frank Herbert's novels, the series distances itself a bit. The series doesn't follow the books strictly—it adds new creative details to the story by focusing on the origins of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood and exploring a mysterious part of Dune that wasn't fully explained before without contradicting the main story.

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Arrakis never sleeps—What Dune: Prophecy reveals and what it promises

Arrakis is a character in itself. It's not a place that simply exists; it is a place that pulses and reshapes itself at every moment. And Dune: Prophecy captures this essence and skillfully expands it, revealing planetary elements we have never been invited to know. The Bene Gesserit sisterhood becomes the focus of this journey, where the enigma of Arrakis gets more layered.

Dune: Prophecy is a deep exploration of the invisible gears that make Arrakis turn. We are no longer following the feast of great heroes or villains—we're having a behind-the-scenes view of the small pieces on the board that play the greatest influences. Surprisingly, the series focuses on the invisible, on what is intertwined in the actions of those we rarely see in history but who define the future of all.

With each new revelation, we are challenged to rethink what we knew about power, control, and the paths these sisterhoods travel. We are observing the silent construction of an entire empire that rises without us being able to perceive it.


Expanded universes—the fertile ground of new stories

The phenomenon of expanded universes is one of the wonders of this entertainment era. It does more than fill gaps to please fans—it builds new mountains and dunes over a vast and unexplored terrain. Dune: Prophecy is not content to be a simple addition to the story—it becomes a revolution at the edges of what we know.

Think about what Star Wars did with The Mandalorian. It is a known galaxy, but the movie franchise expanded it in new directions with new heroes and adventures that capture the franchise's essence while creating something fresh and engaging. House of the Dragon did the same with the Targaryen house, exploring the past in a narrative that resonated with fans, even knowing the tragic destiny of this dynasty. The Rings of Power offered a new era in Middle-earth, where the blood of elves, dwarves, and men intertwines in new ways, but with the weight of what we already loved.

Now, Dune: Prophecy inserts itself into this scenario, exploring the roots while planting new seeds that can grow into infinite stories. In a universe so packed with mysteries, each addition to this puzzle allows us to take a deeper step behind the veils of what is visible. What more is hidden in the sands of Arrakis?


The magic of an expanded universe—revisiting the familiar with a new look

What makes Dune: Prophecy so fascinating is that it revisits Herbert's universe while offering a new key to decipher mysteries that have always existed there. It's not about repeating what we already know; it's about finding new paths, climbing new dunes, and discovering landscapes that have never been seen.

Each new layer added to the Dune universe does not erase what already existed; on the contrary, it creates a space where what we already knew gains new meanings. Instead of getting lost in searching for something new, Dune: Prophecy focuses on giving life to a deeper universe, where each grain of sand carries an untold story. This is the beauty of a good expansion—it keeps you immersed but never lets you forget what made you fall in love with the world in the first place.


The future of Dune: Prophecy

Dune: Prophecy is a mirror of the future but also a reflection of the past. It brings to the surface forces and characters that have always existed but need to be revealed at the right moment. The series proposes expanding the universe of Arrakis and challenging what we know about power, religion, and politics. It shows that when we talk about Dune, we deal with more than heroes and villains — we deal with forces that transcend time and space.

If Dune: Part One and Part Two showed us the surface, Prophecy challenges us to dig deeper and explore the roots of what makes Arrakis the center of the universe. The series promises to open new doors for us to understand the empire in a way that the films could not explore—and when these doors open, you will want to be there to see what is inside. With each new twist, we ask: what more Dune has to offer? In Arrakis, the desert is never just sand. And with Dune: Prophecy, we will continue digging until we find more secrets.

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Edited by Sarah Nazamuddin Harniswala