Fans of HBO/Max’s absorbing “Dune” prequel spinoff, “Dune: Prophecy” just got an early holiday gift with word that HBO has ordered a second season after streaming numbers made it one of their biggest hits of the year, with 15 million views for its debut episode that launched Nov. 17.
Starring Emily Watson (Valya Harkonnen) and Olivia Williams (Tula Harkonnen), “Dune: Prophecy” is set 10,000 years before the birth of Paul Atreides and reflects on the formation of the mystical Bene Gesserit brotherhood and recounts the tragic events of two brothers and sisters of the disgraced Harkonnen royal family. Their cult orchestrations seek to influence the course of the Empire and its royal houses, genetic manipulation, and sophisticated control.
News of the renewal came at a virtual final press conference attended by Space. com on December 19 with showrunner Alison Schapker and stars Emily Watson and Olivia Williams.
“Well, I’m thrilled to be able to announce that HBO will be hiring us for a second season,” Schapker revealed at Thursday’s press conference. “We’re so excited and grateful for the support of our partners at Legendary, and especially to be able to continue to run with those incredible people in front of the camera, to be able to continue to tell this story that we care deeply about and that we can continue to grow our corner of the ‘Dune’ universe. So that’s our very exciting news. “
This six-episode miniseries acts as a backstory to the pair of recent “Dune” movies helmed by director Denis Villeneuve. “Prophecy” was created by Diane Ademu-John (“The Haunting of Bly Manor”) and Alison Schapker (“Fringe,” “Altered Carbon”), who serves as co-showrunner alongside executive producer Jordan Goldberg. It’s adapted from Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson’s 2012 novel, “Sisterhood of Dune.”
Co-produced by Legendary Television and Warner Media, “Dune: Prophecy’s” international cast also includes Mark Strong (Emperor Javicco Corrino), Travis Fimmel (Desmond Hart), Jodhi May (Empress Natalya), Sarah-Sofie Boussnina (Princess Ynez), Josh Heuston (Constantine), Mark Addy (Evgeny Harkonnen), Edward Davis (Harrow Harkonnen), Chloe Lea (Lila), Jade Anouka (Sister Theodosia), Faoileann Cunningham (Sister Jen), Aoife Hinds (Sister Emeline), Chris Mason (Keiran Atreides), Jessica Barden (Young Valya, and Emma Canning (Young Tula).
“Dune: Prophecy” airs its season finale Dec. 22 on HBO and streaming on Max.
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Jeff Spry is an award-winning screenwriter and seasoned freelance journalist covering television, movies, video games, books and comics. His paintings have been published through SYFY Wire, Inverse, Collider, Bleeding Cool and elsewhere. Jeff lives in the charming town of Bend, Oregon, surrounded by ponderosa pines, vintage cars, a vault of collectible horror comics, and two trusty English setters.
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