In July 1965, Frank Herbert published the science-fiction novel Dune and introduced fans worldwide to his time-bending universe of spice. Despite Herbert being ahead of his time, Dune remains shockingly relevant to our time. Set on the planet of Arrakis, it features a war across space over natural resources, tyrannical dictators, a messianic protagonist, and yes, space folding and witches. Beloved by fans of the genre, Dune welcomed a whole new army of fans when it was adapted for the big screen, first in 1984 by David Lynch and later in 2021 by Denis Villeneuve.
Following it up, Dune: Part Two featured this last March. Headed by a star-studded cast, including Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet, Austin Butler, and Florence Pugh, the on-screen adaptation of this epic story was subject to critical acclaim. After Dune was nominated for 10 Oscar Awards and won 6 of them, its sequel will likely have a busy award season to come. But fans hungry for another venture in Arrakis won’t have to wait too long. We’re coming at you with everything we know so far about the upcoming HBO Max series Dune: Prophecy and Villeneuve’s third (and possibly final) adaptation, Dune Messiah. Read on to get the full scoop.
Messiah or Nah
Based on the beloved second novel by Frank Herbert, Dune Messiah is renowned for being far more cerebral than its action-packed predecessor. This second book in Herbert’s Dune series was first published in 1969. Some fans predicted Villeneuve would not accept the challenge of adapting it in all its weird wackiness. However, the filmmaker told Entertainment Weekly, “I always envisioned three movies. It’s not that I want to do a franchise, but this is Dune, and Dune is a huge story. To honor it, I think you would need at least three movies. That would be the dream. To follow Paul Atreides and his full arc would be nice.”
And soon after Dune: Part Two‘s March release, Legendary Entertainment confirmed they were set to develop the third film. The film is sure to be a daunting task, so, like its predecessor, Dune Messiah will likely not be released in theatres for years. It may not be Villeneuve’s next project, vying for the spot against an adaptation of the novel Nuclear War, which is slated to release in 2026. So fans may be looking at 2027 at the earliest. However, rumors have circulated that Villeneuve may have had a change of heart, shifting his gaze to the much-anticipated finale of his Dune saga.
Prophecy & Prescience
But fans of the Dune franchise won’t have to wait too long to see their beloved world of spice, prophecies, and space witches on screen again. Max is expected to stream their new series Dune: Prophecy this November. Set 10,000 years before Paul Atreides’ ascension, the series will follow two Harkonnen sisters as they establish what would become the Bene Gesserit. Dune: Prophecy is based largely on Sisterhood of Dune by Frank Herbert’s son Brian Herbert and his co-writer Kevin J. Anderson. Max shared the teaser for this thrilling return to the world of Dune.
10,000 years before the birth of Paul Atreides, before the universe knew them as the Bene Gesserit…
The new Max Original Series #DuneProphecy is streaming this fall on Max. pic.twitter.com/MvPwIhMG1U
— Max (@StreamOnMax) May 15, 2024
The teaser promises that the series will maintain the haunting atmosphere, action, arranged marriages, and political intrigue of both the books and films. It offers a solemn reminder, one Paul Atreides well knows — “Power comes with a price.” Many fans, ourselves included, celebrate the fact that this series will feature powerful female characters and a diverse cast at the forefront. This quickly-approaching release will introduce fans new and old to a whole new side of the mystifying Bene Gesserit, the group of nun-like witches who seek political and religious power across time and the universe.
Other Adventures on Arrakis
Fans have also been awaiting the release of the video game Dune: Awakening, an Open World Survival MMO. However, despite the release of a trailer that excited future players, a release date has yet to be nailed down, though early access is expected in late 2024.
The universe of Dune continues to enchant and thrill readers to this day, and likely will for generations to come. Which upcoming release are you most looking forward to? Let us know on Facebook, Instagram, or X!
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