The Dune universe will awaken.
Deadline reports Rome and Torchwood veteran Indira Varma has joined the cast of HBO Max’s upcoming Dune prequel series Dune: The Sisterhood as Empress Natalya. Set some 10,000 years prior to the events of Frank Herbert‘s original novel and its film adaptations, the program sets out to chronicle the formation of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood and its long game plan to give birth to a child who can navigate the spiritual elements of the feminine and the masculine. No, really, that’s part of what a Kwisatz Haderach is supposed to do. Emily Watson and Emily Henderson will star as the two Harkonnens who start the Sisterhood and fight the distant future they perceive.
The series is based on Sisterhood of Dune, one of Brian Herbert‘s expansions to his father’s mystical science fiction universe. Diane Ademu-John is the principal creative force on the program with Alison Schapker as her co-showrunner and Johan Renck as the pilot director. All three will serve as executive producers alongside Dune feature film director Denis Villeneuve, writer Jon Spaihts — who originally planed to spearhead the series before a scheduling conflict with Dune: Part 2 — Scott Z. Burns, Matthew King, John Cameron, Cait Collins, Herbert, Byron Merritt and Kim Herbert. Brian Herbert’s frequent co-author Kevin J. Anderson is also onboard as a co-producer.
Dune: The Sisterhood has been in development for some time and reflects Warner’s interest in setting up the Dune universe as an ongoing creative environment. The expansion novels certainly help in this regard as they flesh out characters and ideas glanced upon in Frank Herbert’s original six novel saga. And although the Warner streaming service is dedicated to the goal, the ever-changing priorities of its corporate parent, Warner Bros. Discovery, leave us wondering if the show will fit its corporate strategy in a year’s time, when HBO Max and Discovery+ will be merged into one streaming platform.
It is unclear when the series will debut, but with casting underway, production should begin soon.
The Dune universe will awaken. Deadline reports Rome and Torchwood veteran Indira Varma has joined the cast of HBO Max’sCOMICONRead More