While Denis Villeneuve is off in the desert working on “Dune: Part Two,” it appears that HBO Max is moving full steam ahead with its first spinoff series, “Dune: The Sisterhood.” After months of development, we now know the two of the actors who will be leading the cast.
READ MORE: ‘Dune: Part Two’: Léa Seydoux Joins The Cast Of Denis Villeneuve’s Sci-Fi Sequel
According to Variety, Emily Watson and Shirley Henderson have been cast in lead roles for the upcoming series, “Dune: The Sisterhood.” Based on the novel “Sisterhood of Dune,” Watson will play Valya Harkonnen, and Henderson will play Tula Harkonnen in a story about two sisters who join forces and begin the work to create the Bene Gesserit. The series will take place 10,000 years before the events of the “Dune” films.
“Dune: The Sisterhood” is co-showrun by Diane Ademu-John and Alison Shapker, with the former also listed as a creator on the show. Denis Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts, Matthew King, John Cameron, and Cait Collins are all executive producers, along with members of the Frank Herbert Estate. Johan Renck (“Chernobyl”) will direct the premiere episode and executive produce.
The one little tidbit we can add here to this story is that Scott Z. Burns, the writer/director behind “The Report” and screenwriter behind “The Bourne Ultimatum” (2007), “The Informant!” (2009), and “Contagion” (2011), is no longer involved. However, he still retains an executive producer credit for his work on the project. Original showrunner Diane Ademu-John was the first one to reveal Burns’ participation. He was quietly brought on to help co-showrun the series as a “creative exec” but left, we’re told, for something resembling creative differences, and now Alison Shapker, known for producing on “Westworld” and “Altered Carbon,” is the new co-showrunner.
READ MORE: Jon Spaihts On A Potential ‘Dune’ Trilogy & Collaborating With Park Chan-Wook [Interview]
As mentioned above, ‘Sisterhood’ marks the first spinoff of the “Dune” franchise, which surprised many when it became a box office hit (and won a handful of Oscars) upon its release in 2021. A sequel was quickly greenlit, and it’s clear that Warner Bros. Discovery is hoping to build out the franchise more than just in Villeneuve’s films. In addition to “Dune: Part Two,” the filmmaker has already expressed his desire to finish a “Dune” trilogy with “Dune: Messiah,” which is the second book in the long-running sci-fi novel series.
A release date for “Dune: The Sisterhood” is unknown at this time. “Dune: Part 2” is expected to hit theaters on November 17, 2023.