Emily Watson and Shirley Henderson will lead the “Dune” prequel series at HBO Max.
Watson and Henderson have been cast as Valya Harkonnen and Tula Harkonnen, described by the streamer as “the formidable Harkonnen Sisters, who have risen to power in the Sisterhood, a secret organization of women who will go on to become the Bene Gesserit.”
The prequel series, titled “Dune: The Sisterhood,” is set 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides and follows the Harkonnen Sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind and establish the fabled sect known as the Bene Gesserit.
The series is adapted from the novel “Sisterhood of Dune” by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.
Diane Ademu-John serves as creator, writer, co-showrunner and executive producer. Alison Schapker serves as co-showrunner and executive producer.
Johan Renck will direct the premiere episode and executive produce. “Dune” director Denis Villeneuve will also executive produce alongside Jon Spaihts, who left the project at the end of 2019 in order to focus on writing the sequel to Villeneuve’s upcoming big screen adaptation of Frank Herbert’s epic.
Scott Z. Burns, Matthew King, John Cameron and Cait Collins will also executive produce with Brian Herbert, as well as Byron Merritt and Kim Herbert as executive producers for the Frank Herbert estate. Kevin J. Anderson serves as co-producer.
The series is co-produced by HBO Max and Legendary Television. Legendary also produced the film.
Watson is represented by Independent Talent Group, UTA and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham. Henderson is represented by Hamilton Hodell and Goodman Genow Schenkman Smelkinson & Christopher, LLP.
