Denis Villeneuve’s successful films, Dune and Dune: Part Two, inspired Max to expand the Dune universe in what’s set to become one of the biggest shows currently airing on the platform, Dune: Prophecy. Whenever a film prompts a spin-off TV series, it’s difficult for the tone to translate from the big to the small screen without losing some of the quality seen in a film. However, the same tone isn’t impossible to achieve, as The Batman spin-off series The Penguin proved most recently. The series managed to expand Matt Reeves’ Batman universe with the same tone as the film but was still able to stand on its own as a television show. The Dune spin-off has received mixed reviews on this front, with critics wanting the series to feel exactly like the film while others appreciate the differentiation.

Dune: Prophecy is set a little more than 10,000 years before the birth of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and almost 120 years after the machine wars that divided the Great Houses of the Imperium. The plot follows two sisters, Valya (Emily Watson) and Tula (Olivia Williams), of House Harkonnen as they scheme to create the Bene Gesserit sisterhood while simultaneously seeking vengeance against House Atreides for their family’s misfortunes. The series delves deeper into Frank Herbert’s mythology, expands Villeneuve’s vision, and takes fans back to Arrakis while introducing other planets from Herbert’s lore.

Dune: Prophecy Release Date November 17, 2024 Main Genre Sci-Fi Seasons 1 Franchise(s) Dune Expand

Embrace the Differences Between the ‘Dune’ Films and the Series

The film and the series tell different stories, which will automatically make them feel distinct from one another. Dune: Prophecy aims to depict the origin story of the Bene Gesserit and the Kwisatz Haderach prophecy, which all lead to the events of Dune and the birth of Paul Atreides. The politics of the Imperium and the tension between the divided houses are explored, meaning fans should expect official court attire and Bene Gesserit veils instead of stillsuits. This is Dune’s Game of Thrones, where politics is an intriguing story that slowly but satisfyingly unfolds.

The political ventures the series takes explain the smaller scale and intensity compared to the original films, but make no mistake, the stakes are just as high. The Harkonnen’s revenge plot and Watson’s performance as Valya are more than enough to keep the audience invested as the season progresses. If there’s one thing that will always capture viewers, it’s a complex antagonist. The series was always intended to be different from the films so that it could stand on its own and garner a new audience that might not be familiar with Villeneuve’s adaptations.

The Cinematic Elements of ‘Dune’ Aren’t Lost

When a cinematic film is followed by a spin-off television series, the grandiose feeling can be lost in translation, leaving fans underwhelmed. Dune: Prophecy avoids this with the twists and turns it’s promising this season. Much like its predecessor film, there’s violence, drama, and death; it doesn’t shy away from these topics or visuals. The expansion of the universe and the exploration of different planets give the show that cinematic feel. With brief visits to Arrakis, fans are introduced to the icy planet of Lankiveil, where the Harkonnens are exiled, and the incandescing cities of Salusa Secundus. The series may be smaller in scale, but it doesn’t feel or appear that way at all.

Related Everything You Need to Know About House Atreides and House Harkonnen Before Dune: Prophecy Before Paul Atreides, the feud between House Harkonnen and House Atreides was fueled by those who set his existence into motion in ‘Dune: Prophecy’.

Everything about the production, from the set design to the costuming, matches the energy of the original films. Fans still see the veils that shroud members of the sisterhood in mystery, as well as other costuming details that distinguish the high-born from the sisterhood and other folks. Every detail will remind Dune fans of the universe they’ve grown to love while incorporating a new flair to the series that will distinguish it from the films.

The New Cast Is Just as Masterful as the Original

Denis Villeneuve gathered an amazingly talented ensemble for his cinematic masterpiece. With actors like Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Christopher Walken, and many more, the film was a masterclass in cinema. The cast of the series is no different. Emily Watson gives a powerful performance as Valya Harkonnen, and fans will want to see more of the enigmatic character. Olivia Williams is a powerhouse in her own right as Tula Harkonnen and the pair manage to juxtapose each other beautifully, with Valya representing ambition and vengeance and Tula representing a more nurturing and softer figure. Their acting is the ultimate factor that distinguishes the show from the films, and it should excite fans.

Related One Dune 2 Scene Was So Complicated To Shoot That It Required a Special Unit Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve shares details of shooting sandworm-riding scene: “If I had done it myself, I would still be shooting.”

The creators of the show are leaving their own mark on the universe that Villeneuve started, but they are also capturing the essence of his world-building as well. The differences should excite fans, and they should welcome the prospect of the series expanding on the lore from the books. The series has its own purpose, separate from the Dune films, and the political aspects of it will intrigue fans to keep watching and see what other mischievous schemes the Harkonnen sisters are plotting and how the emperor struggles to keep his power and maintain peace among the houses of the Imperium. It’s a series you don’t want to miss. Dune: Prophecy is streaming on Max.