Prophecy without watching the movies?

For those unfamiliar with Frank Herbert’s vast science fiction universe: Dune: Prophecy might seem like an intimidating choice for your weekly dose of television. The HBO original series is now streaming on Max, but franchise newcomers may be wondering if they need to have watched a previous series dune Watch movies or read some books to understand the show.

The doubts are understandable. The “Duniverse” has existed since the publication of Frank Herbert’s novel dune in 1965 and consists of numerous novels as well as their film and television adaptations. In 2021, the first part of Denis Villeneuve’s two-part film series brought the story of the best-selling science fiction novel back into the mainstream. Shortly after Legendary Entertainment acquired the film rights to the books, their TV division greenlit a spin-off project for the films, which are now being released as Dune: Prophecy.

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What is Dune: Prophecy based on?

This novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson inspired the HBO series Dune: Prophecy.

Is Dune: Prophecy Connected to the films?

Dune: Prophecy acts as a prequel to the films

Yes, Dune: Prophecy is directly related to the films of Denis Villeneuve. However, their positions in the universe’s timeline differ significantly. I say this prophecy Whether it’s a prequel or set in the past would be an understatement. The first episode shows that this is what the show is like takes place 10,148 years before the birth of Paul Atreides. It also takes place 116 years after another important historical event in the Duniverse: the end of the Great Machine Wars, or the Butlerian Jihad as it is called in the books.

All of this could seem overwhelming to a viewer unfamiliar with it dunebut the first 12 minutes of the episode provide a solid foundation for the plot. It avoids revealing too many secrets or confusing the audience with excessive exposition. In this way, the show captivates viewers while remaining engaging dune‘s characteristic mysterious atmosphere. It’s worth noting that some recurring elements may be difficult to understand, especially for newcomers, such as Spice, The Sisterhood, Harkonnens, The Voice or Arrakis. However, as the series progresses, viewers can pick up on these details through context.

Make Denis Villeneuve dune Films are important for understanding prophecy?

Simply put, an average viewer can tune in Dune: Prophecy on HBO without having seen the movies or read the books. It’s a perfectly acceptable starting point for a newcomer to the franchise. Additionally, since the six-episode series is released weekly and only two episodes are available so far, fans can even find time to watch Dune: Part One And Part Two in between prophecy episodes. This approach improves the overall experience by providing more context and naturally making them more eager and alert for Easter eggs.

The ongoing HBO original series focuses on Valya Harkonnen, second superior of the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood, and her efforts to control the bloodlines of the Great Houses through secret breeding programs. The animosity between the Harkonnens and the Atreides is evident from the beginning, even in this distant era of the timeline. In terms of attitude, most Dune: ProphecyEvents take place on Salusa Secundus and Wallach IX, with minimal focus on Arrakis. Emily Watson, who stars as Valya, even joked about the series’ old schedule in an interview with IGN:

We live 10,000 years before the birth of Paul Atreides and like to call it 10,000 years B.C. BC, before Chalamet.

Because the events of Dune: Prophecy are so far removed from the events of Villeneuve’s films that they can be enjoyed as a separate story within the same universe, whether or not you are familiar with Paul Atreides’ story.

How Dune: Prophecy Fits into the larger “duniverse”

Which book is Dune: Prophecy Related to?

Dune: ProphecyThe connection (or lack thereof) to Villeneuve’s films is best understood through the source material. Directed by Timothée Chalamet, the films are an adaptation of Frank Herbert’s original 1965 novel. In contrast, the HBO series is based on the Great schools of Dune Trilogy (2012–2016) written by Herbert’s son Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. The new project explores the origins of the Bene Gesserit, as well as their actions and goals. Her story sheds more light on her role in the films and Herbert’s original books, even though there are 10,000 years between the two stories. In an interview with Collider, showrunner and executive producer Alison Schapker addressed accessibility concerns:

Dune is so dense, it’s so well thought out, it’s so alive, and it wouldn’t be Dune if we didn’t embrace that aspect. (…) We really try to have multiple levels in the series. So if you’ve never seen the movies or read the books, you can come in and discover the world through these characters. But for those who have it, we want to have a rich, exciting and dense experience.

Villeneuve’s films will influence everyone’s future dune Story

History and timelines aside, it’s clear that the creators of Dune: Prophecy consciously reproduce the tone and essence of the film duology. Both dune Films were cinematic achievements in every sense – from Greig Fraser’s cinematography to Hans Zimmer’s score to the excellence of technical departments such as editing, sound, production design and more. These films created a visual blueprint for more than just any future dune Retelling, but possibly for the entire science fiction genre. That influence extends to the HBO spinoff, even though it’s 10,000 years removed from the films and features an entirely new cast of characters.

And it’s not just Denis Villeneuves dune Films that make you feel distant Dune: Prophecy. Most film adaptations of the Duniverse focus on Paul Atreides’ timeline or events immediately following it. This also includes David Lynch dune (1984) and the TV adaptations Frank Herbert’s Dune And Children of Dune in the early 2000s. As a result, Dune: Prophecy acts as a prequel to all of them and can be understood without prior knowledge of these stories. Who knows – it could even serve as an excellent spiritual precursor to the much-heralded work Dune: Messiah, which is currently under development.

Dune: Prophecy

Release date

November 17, 2024

Pour

Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Jodhi May, Travis Fimmel, Mark Strong, Jade Anouka, Chris Mason, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Faoileann Cunningham, Aoife Hinds, Chloe Lea, Josh Heuston, Edward Davis, Tabu, Yerin Ha

Seasons

1

Directors

Anna Forster

Showrunner

Alison Schapker

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