"Dune: Prophecy" is a fantastic prequel to the movies

November 18, 2024

-Victory is celebrated in the light, but it is won in the darkness.

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Dune: Propechy is HBO's exciting prequel to Denis Villeneuve's universally acclaimed Dune movies, which starred Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya within the expansive tapestry of the Dune universe. First adapted from the 1965 novel by Frank Herbert, the movies followed Paul Atreides and his family, House Atreides, as they battled for the desert planet Arrakis.

Dune: Prophecy, set 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, follows two Harkonnen sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind and establish the fabled sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit. The series premiered on HBO on November 17 and will have 6 episodes with new episodes released through December 22, 2024.

Inspired by the novel Sisterhood of Dune, written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, the series was developed by Diane Ademu-John and Alison Schapker. Executive producers include Ademu-John, Schapker, Jon Spaihts, and Scott Z. Burns with production companies Legendary Television and HBO.

Courtesy: HBO

The series stars:

• Emily Watson as Valya Harkonnen

• Jessica Barden as Young Valya

• Olivia Williams as Tula Harkonnen

• Emma Canning as Young Tula

• Travis Fimmel as Desmond Hart

• Jodhi May as Empress Natalya

• Sarah-Sofie Boussnina as Princess Ynez

• Chloe Lea as Lila

• Chris Mason as Keiran Atreides

• Shalom Brune-Franklin as Mikaela

• Mark Strong as Emperor Javicco Corrino

• Jade Anouka as Sister Theodosia

• Edward Davis as Harrow Harkonnen

• Josh Heuston as Constantine Corrino

• Faoileann Cunningham as Sister Jen

• Aoife Hinds as Sister Emeline

• Mark Addy as Evgeny Harkonnen

Courtesy: HBO

The first episode sets the stage for the series as the two sisters, Mother Superior Valya and Tula, try to choose the right Truthsayer to orchestrate political alliances. With a focus on the first generation between the Atreides and Harkonnen families, the new series delves deeper into the machinations of the Bene Gesserit, the powerful sisterhood of women who rose to power, using their influence to control the political alliances within the Great Houses of the Imperium. We get deeper insight into the disgraced Hakonnens who were branded cowards in the war against the machines and Valya sets out to disprove that notion. What if the Harkonnens weren't the cowards they were thought to be, but the Atrwides were able to frame the narrative as such?

"The Hidden Hand" puts these ideas in motion with a powerhouse performance by Watson who has a steely grip on Bene Gesserit that gives us insight into the origins of the sisterhood and the quest for power among the characters.

Dune: Prophecy is a worthy prequel to the events before the movies.

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The first episode of "Dune: Prophecy" is airing on HBO and streaming on MAX.

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