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The Max prequel series Dune: Prophecy has cast two actresses in recurring roles, Tabu and Jihae, Variety reported exclusively.
Tabu is an Indian actress who works primarily in Hindi films. She is thought to be one of the most accomplished actresses in Hindi cinema. Jihae is a South Korean singer and actress. Her acting credits include roles in the Netflix series Altered Carbon and HBO | Max's Succession.
Dune: Prophecy was originally commissioned in 2019 as Dune: The Sisterhood. It's based on the 2012 novel Sisterhood of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.
Dune 10,000 years in the past
The show's logline reads: “Set within the expansive universe of ‘Dune,' created by acclaimed author Frank Herbert, and 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, ‘Dune: Prophecy' follows two Harkonnen sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit.”
According to the show's IMDb page, the actresses playing the Harkonnen sisters have been cast. Valya and Tula Harkonnen are played by Emily Watson and Olivia Williams, respectively. Mark Strong plays Emperor Javicco Corrino, the first Padishah Emperor. His wife, Natalya, is played by Jodhi May. His daughter, Princess Ynez, is played by Sarah-Sofie Boussnina. Josh Heuston plays Constantine, the Emperor's illegitimate son.
Camilla Beeput plays the Reverend Mother Dorotea is the second Reverend Mother in history, the founder and leader of the schismatic Orthodox Sisterhood on Salusa Secundus.
Travis Fimmel plays Desmond Hart, a charismatic soldier with a mysterious past who seeks to gain the Emperor's trust. Chris Mason plays the Swordmaster Keiran Atreides, who unexpectedly forms a connection with a member of House Corrino. Edward Davis plays Harrow Harkonnen, a rising politician.
No big battles?
The novel is set years after the Battle of Corrin and the end of the Butlerian Jihad, which resulted in the total destruction of almost all computers, thinking machines, and conscious robots. This is why in Denis Villeneuve's Dune, there are computer-like machines, save those in use by the Bene Gesserit, Mentat and the Spacing Guild.
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The series will most likely deal with the fledgling organizations threatened by the anti-technology forces that are gaining power after the Butlerian Jihad.
The series doesn't have a specific release date yet, other than a fall 2024 timeframe. The cast and the characters they're playing have also be announced.
The best way to think about the show is to separate it from the movies. While the characters' names may be familiar, if you only have passing knowledge of the lore, it would be much easier to keep from referencing the people in the movies.
The Harkonnens till hate Atreides
For example, the Atreides (in case you've forgotten, that's Paul's family) exist in Prophecy. So do the Harkonnens (that's Feyd-Rautha's, Austin Butler, family), and yes, they still hate the Atreides who they blame for their family' downfall.
However, the Harkonnens in this series are Valya and Tulya. In the book, the elder Valya becomes a Reverend Mother. The title changed into Reverend Mother of the Bene Gesserit Order, and she's the first to hold that title.
She's described as having mastered the skills that we can recognize such as the voice, swordfighting and petit perception — the ability to monitor the minutiae (emotions, motivations, agenda) of others. Valya manipulates her sister Tula for her own ends, mostly to exact vengeance against the Atreides.
I'm actually pretty excited for the show. I'm not as familiar with the story as I am with the books written by Frank Herbert, but I want to see the early days of the Bene Gesserit.
