Key Takeaways

• Dune: Prophecy is a prequel TV series focusing on the powerful Bene Gesserit.
• Dune: Prophecy and Game of Thrones share similarities in budget, worldbuilding, and political plots.
• Dune: Prophecy may fill the void left by Game of Thrones, boasting a formidable cast and a promising trajectory.

Dune fans will soon have more to look forward to in the franchise as the spin-off series Dune: Prophecy approaches its release date. The HBO TV show will be the next chapter in Denis Villeneuve’s cinematic sci-fi franchise ahead of the release of Dune 3.

Dune: Prophecy is a prequel set thousands of years before the events of Dune: Part One and Part Two. The series will be an adaptation of Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson’s prequel novel, Sisterhood of Dune, which is being adapted for TV by Alison Schapker (Westworld, Altered Carbon). The series will primarily focus on the Bene Gesserit, aka the powerful sisterhood of superhuman women that Rebecca Ferguson’s Lady Jessica is a part of in the Dune movies. As marketing for Dune: Prophecy ramps up ahead of its November 17 release date, trailers have teased a sprawling sci-fi television epic that is akin to one of HBO’s other major titles, Game of Thrones.

Dune and Game of Thrones Share Many Similarities

Whilst Dune: Prophecy and Game of Thrones are situated in completely different genres and universes, they share many similarities. Both series are based on epic book sagas written by high-profile authors, George R.R. Martin and Frank Herbert, who have huge fan bases. Both stories take place in sprawling and intricately crafted worlds that take full advantage of the sci-fi and fantasy genres, becoming timeless classics in their respective niches. And, while the plots of both stories diverge greatly, they share similar concepts, such as warring houses, prophecies, and a quest for power. Given all that, it’s natural to expect that Dune: Prophecy will appeal to fans of Game of Thrones, but the latest trailers have only confirmed that this series may fill the void left by the HBO fantasy series.

Dune: Prophecy Features A Fight for the Throne

Dune Prophecy’s Trailer Sets Up A Political War

Dune: Prophecy’s official trailer was released a few weeks ago at New York Comic Con, and it set up a sci-fi world of intrigue, secrets, and conspiracy. Like Game of Thrones, Dune: Prophecy is an ensemble piece, focusing on a range of characters in varying positions of power and from different backgrounds within the Dune universe. Much of the series will be seen through the eyes of two Harkonnen sisters, Valya (Emily Watson) and Tula (Olivia Williams), who help form the sect known as the Bene Gesserit. In Villeneuve’s Dune movies, the Bene Gesserit is an established sisterhood with members situated throughout the great houses. Dune: Prophecy will explain how they came to have such influence, and what they had to sacrifice to get there.

The most important piece of the puzzle in Dune: Prophecy is the Emperor and his throne. Similar to Game of Thrones, the sci-fi series will involve a fight for the regency, with many different players vying for a shot at the ruling power. Mark Strong plays Emperor Javicco Corrino in Dune: Prophecy, who is the reigning ruler in control of the Imperium, but it is a fragile peace, with many of the great houses eyeing off his seat. “The Imperium is a circus of fear and rumor, I’m surrounded by vipers,” Corrino says at one point during the Dune: Prophecy trailer. It’s not hard to see the similarity this bears to Game of Thrones, which similarly features many noble houses from a variety of regions fighting to sit on Westeros’ revered Iron throne.

The Imperium is a circus of fear and rumor, I’m surrounded by vipers.

It’s not just the complex political plot that Dune: Prophecy shares with Game of Thrones. The series will also seemingly match the fantasy series’ budget, which is no doubt a perk of them both being housed at HBO. Many shots in the trailer seem to suggest that Dune: Prophecy will match the visual aesthetic and scale of the movies. Whether it’s scenes featuring Arrakis’ giant sandworms or establishing shots of vast new sci-fi cities, Dune: Prophecy clearly has a blockbuster budget. Similar to Game of Thrones, it also has a formidable cast attached, with Watson, Williams, and Strong just some of the notable names alongside the likes of Travis Fimmel (Vikings) and Jodhi May (The Witcher).

Is Dune Prophecy the Next Game of Thrones?

It’s clear that Dune: Prophecy and Game of Thrones share similarities in terms of scale, worldbuilding, themes, and budget, but will the Dune TV series be a true equal? Game of Thrones was considered a global phenomenon and was one of the most-watched series of all time. Dune: Prophecy could be poised to follow a similar trajectory. The TV series sits within Denis Villeneuve’s established Dune universe, from which both movies released so far have seen sizable success at the box office and awards ceremonies. The series also has an inbuilt fanbase thanks to Herbert’s novels, which sets Dune: Prophecy up with a considerable audience from the get-go. The series will still need to deliver on what it promises in its trailers, but HBO has a reliable track record with genre television shows.

Many TV series have tried to take the moniker of the “next” Game of Thrones since the series ended back in 2019. In reality, no series has truly lit the world on fire in the same way. While no TV series should be expected to live up to Game of Thrones’ success, Dune: Prophecy does look to offer viewers a similar experience, albeit in a sci-fi world, which might be enough for it to succeed.

Dune: Prophecy will be released on HBO and Max on November 17, 2024.