‘Dune: Prophecy’ will launch viewers into worlds far beyond Arrakis, says executive producer

The Dune universe is set to grow even further with the upcoming prequel series Dune: Prophecy, which premieres on Sunday. While fans of the Dune films have grown accustomed to the vast, spice-infused deserts of Arrakis, the new series promises to explore completely new settings and time periods, venturing far beyond the iconic planet.

According to executive producer Alison Schapker, Dune: Prophecy will introduce viewers to a diverse range of environments that feel both expansive and true to the Dune universe, building on the foundation established in Denis Villeneuve’s recent Dune films. Schapker, who has experience working on shows like Westworld, Lost, and Alias, emphasized that the series will respect the source material and the cinematic vision of Villeneuve, while also expanding the universe in exciting new ways.

“Dune is a universe that people are attached to,” Schapker told CNN in a recent interview. “It exists in a world that matters to people, and I think we wanted to respect that.” With this in mind, Schapker and her team had the creative freedom to develop new worlds and stories, but they were careful to maintain the visual and thematic consistency that fans expect from the franchise.

Set 10,000 years before the events of Villeneuve’s Dune: Part 1 and Dune: Part 2, Prophecy delves into the origins of the Bene Gesserit, a powerful group of women trained to wield extraordinary mental and physical abilities. The series takes inspiration from the Schools of Dune trilogy, written by Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert (Frank Herbert’s son), and follows the lives of two sisters, Valya and Tula Harkonnen, who work to shape the future of humanity and lay the foundation for the Bene Gesserit order.

One of the key locations in the series is the planet Salusa Secundus, which fans of the films will recognize as a brutal prison world. In Dune: Prophecy, however, Salusa Secundus is depicted as an imperial planet, adding another layer of complexity to its role in the Dune universe. The series will also showcase other new worlds, such as Wallach IX, where the Bene Gesserit sisterhood has its institutional base, and Lankiveil, a harsh, icy planet where the Harkonnens were exiled during this period of the story.

While the focus of the show is on building rich, immersive worlds, Schapker stressed the importance of making the story accessible to both Dune fans and newcomers alike. “That was a real conscious sort of tightrope walk we did,” she explained. “We wanted to make sure that even people who haven’t read the books or seen the films could still enjoy the series.” At the same time, the show will dive deep into the lore of the Dune universe, offering long-time fans plenty of material to savor.

Dune: Prophecy is also geared toward a more mature audience, exploring themes of power, politics, and sexuality with more adult sensibilities. Schapker expressed her excitement about being able to delve into these areas of the story without compromising on tone or content. “I loved that we were allowed to be grown-up sci-fi,” Schapker said. “It really was very fun to allow our characters to have three-dimensional humanity, including their sexuality, and to explore some of the spicier moments of the story.” These “spicier” moments, however, refer to character-driven scenes rather than the literal spice central to Dune‘s lore.

This mature approach to storytelling is one of the many reasons Schapker and her team are excited about Dune: Prophecy. The series will not only expand the Dune universe but will also offer a fresh, compelling narrative for both fans of the original novels and newcomers to the franchise.

The first episode of Dune: Prophecy will premiere on Sunday on Max, inviting viewers to explore new corners of the Dune universe. As with all things Dune, the promise of new worlds, complex characters, and epic storytelling will undoubtedly keep audiences coming back for more. With Schapker at the helm, the prequel series is poised to make its mark on the growing Dune franchise, expanding its legacy in new and exciting directions.

(Dune: Prophecy is available on Max, a unit of Warner Bros. Discovery, alongside HBO, CNN, and other affiliated properties.)