Denis Villeneuve's third (and final) Dune movie may be a while away just yet, but fans of Frank Herbert inspired hard sci-fi haven't got long left to wait for a return to Arrakis. Five years after it was first announced, Herbert-verse prequel Dune: Prophecy — a six-part series set 10,000 years before the arrival of Muad'Dib Paul Atreides — is mere weeks away from making its debut on Sky and Max. And now, after a couple of tantalising teasers for the Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, and Mark Strong led show, New York Comic Con has brought us a new, longer look at what awaits as we prepare to witness the origins of the elusive Bene Gesserit order. Check it out below:
After holding back on the spice and sandworms with its early teasers, this new trailer for Dune: Prophecy opens the floodgates, promising to take viewers to a period in Arrakis' history dominated by scheming, politicking, power plays, and the growing influence of Watson's Bene Gesserit founding mother Valya Harkonnen. Visually of a piece with Villeneuve's movies but set apart by showrunner Alison Schapker's slightly less sterile stylistic approach to exploring what makes us human, this looks like a weighty, mature sci-fi series that's intent on honouring the labyrinthine complexities of Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's Sisterhood Of Dune book.
Here's the official logline: “Dune: Prophecy 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.” And in terms of the eye-catching ensemble that's been brought together for this one, the cast list includes *deep breath* Camilla Beeput, Sarah Lam, Travis Fimmel, Jodhi May, Jade Anouka, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina and Chris Mason.
Is Mark Strong's Emperor Javicco Corrino destined to be, as he fears, fed to "the worm"? Does anyone seriously believe Watson's Valya Harkonnen when she says her school for young women is "not a threat to anyone"? And is it just the sands of Arrakis that are going to be Spicy here? We'll find out when Dune: Prophecy premieres on Sky on 18 November. Duuuuuuuneeeeeee!