Is Denis Villeneuve involved in Dune: Prophecy?

Dune: Prophecy is an American TV show that was released on November 17, 2024, on Max (formerly HBO Max). The show was developed by Diane Ademu-John and Alison Schapker, and Alison was also the showrunner. The star cast includes Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Travis Fimmel, Jodhi May, Chris Mason, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, and more. The show is a prequel to Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films and takes place 10,000 years before the events of Dune took place. It highlights the origins of the Bene Gesserit, a powerful and mysterious sisterhood that plays an important role in the Dune universe.

The show is about 2 sisters, Valya and Tula Harkonnen, and it tells the early history of the Dune world. The story follows the Harkonnen sisters as they face challenges in a complicated world. Their journey helps create a powerful group called the Bene Gesserit. The show provides a deep dive into the history and formation of the Bene Gesserit. It sheds light on how they became one of the most powerful groups in the Dune saga. The show focuses on the early years of this group. Dune: Prophecy plans to expand the Dune universe while keeping the themes of power, destiny, and survival. It connects to the larger picture introduced in novels by Frank Herbert and later in the films directed by Denis Villeneuve. He is a Canadian director, best known for directing Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024). Both of the films were major hits at the box office.

Is Denis Villeneuve involved in Dune: Prophecy?

Denis Villeneuve is not directly involved in the production of Dune: Prophecy. While he was consulted during the early stages of development, his focus remained on completing Dune: Part Two and planning potential future films in the franchise. The show follows the theme, style, and visuals similar to the film.

Executive producer of the show Jordan Goldberg confirmed that Denis Villeneuve was “very hands-off” with the TV series. In an interview with Screen Rant, Goldberg said, “Well, Denis' got his own franchise that he's working on right now and he's been busy doing that and his own projects. He's really left to us to figure out how to platform the new characters and the new worlds, which is exciting about the story that we're telling because we are outside of Arrakis and so we get to visit new places.” He further added, “But he is aspirational in what he did there for us to achieve that kind of large-scale immersive experience. We had a tremendous cast and a tremendous crew and we went all in and put it on the screen and it shows.”

Is there a season 2 of Dune: Prophecy?

Yes, HBO renewed the show Dune: Prophecy for the 2nd season and made the announcement a few days before the Season 1 finale aired. In a statement, Head of Max Original Programming, Sarah Aubrey, said, “Dune: Prophecy has captivated audiences around the globe thanks to the visionary leadership of showrunner and executive producer Alison Schapker, who will continue to guide this grand tale of truth and power.” She added, “We are incredibly grateful to our partners at Legendary and to our extraordinary cast and crew for their service to the Imperium. We’re excited to collaborate with this team again to see what they have in store.”

In the statement, Legendary’s President of Television, Jason Clodfelter, said, “This new season will allow us to continue building out the groundbreaking, epic DUNE franchise that has captivated audiences worldwide across its installments. We look forward to continuing our incredible partnership with HBO and are thrilled for Alison Schapker, her team, and the cast and crew who have worked so passionately to bring this world-class source material from Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson to life.”

The release date of Dune: Prophecy's second season is not yet announced by HBO. The next season is most likely to be released in 2026 or later, as it is currently in production. The 2nd season will focus on the Harkonnen sisters and the origin of the Sisterhood. Main cast members like Emily Watson and Olivia Williams will continue their roles in the next season.

Also read: Is Travis fimmel in Dune: Prophecy?