Overview
The Dune universe is returning to the small screen. Over the past four decades, the franchise started on the page by Frank Herbert has hit cinemas three times so far, thanks to David Lynch's 1984 film, plus the current spicy cinema saga starring Timothée Chalamet (Wonka) and Zendaya (Euphoria). In the 00s, it also spread sandy across TV via two miniseries. Now, because everything in pop culture has to span both movies and television at the same time, HBO has made six-part prequel series Dune: Prophecy.
Due to arrive in spring 2024 Down Under, with an exact release date still to be revealed, the new Dune show sits in the same world as both 2021 standout Dune: Part One and this year's Dune: Part Two — but there'll be no Paul Atreides or Chani. Rather, Dune: Prophecy is set amid the Bene Gesserit 10,000 years before the birth of Paul.
HBO has dropped a first teaser trailer for the series, which follows the sect that gives rise to the Bene Gesserit, aka the sisterhood that secretly sways the universe. In the debut sneak peek, the narration explains how the faction formed, and was "assigned to the great houses to help them sift truth from lies" — but also notes that that power comes with a price.
Cue plenty of plotting, especially to get a sister onto the throne. Cue lurking in dramatically shadowy spaces as well, as schemes are hatched. Rituals, battles, marriages: they all pop up, too, in a series that's inspired by Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson's novel Sisterhood of Dune.
While no familiar faces from Denis Villeneuve's (Blade Runner 2049) Dune movies feature in the trailer, the show's cast includes Emily Watson (Small Things Like These), Olivia Williams (The Crown), Travis Fimmel (Boy Swallows Universe), Jodhi May (Renegade Nell), Mark Strong (Tár), Sarah-Sofie Boussnina (The Colony), Josh Heuston (Heartbreak High) and Jessica Barden (You & Me).
On the big screen, there's also more Dune to come, with the tale of Paul, aka sci-fi's spiciest man, set to continue in a third Dune film that doesn't yet have a release date.
Check out the first teaser trailer for Dune: Prophecy below:
Dune: Prophecy will stream from sometime in spring 2024, including via Binge in Australia — we'll update you when an exact release date is announced. Read our reviews of Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two, and our interview with cinematographer Greig Fraser.