Indira Varma and Five More Join DUNE: THE SISTERHOOD TV Series

Most of your Dune-related attention has likely revolved around Denis Villeneuve’s excellent movie. But there’s more than just the film to feel excited about. Warner Bros. is launching a tie-in TV series called Dune: The Sisterhood, which will air on HBO Max. We learned this news back in 2019, but now we know who’ll be delivering the project. Variety reports that Diane Ademu-John will serve as showrunner on the series. In addition, Legendary has shared that Johan Renck will direct the first two episodes as well as executive produce the show. Additionally, Emily Watson and Shirley Henderson have been cast as the show’s leads. And now, Deadline reports that Indira Varma has joined the cast well as Empress Natalya, along with five other casting annoucements. The show will serve as a prequel to the films.

According to Deadline, the Obi-Wan Kenobi, Game of Thrones, and Carnival Row actress has come aboard the show. Indira Varma will play the role of Empress Natalya. The actress is described as “a formidable royal who united thousands of worlds in her marriage to Emperor Corrino.”

She sounds incredibly epic.

Indira Varma Joins Dune The Sisterhood
HBO

Watson and Henderson will also star in Dune: The Sisterhood. They will play the roles of Valya Harkonnen and Tula Harkonnen, respectively. Deadline notes, “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.”

Dune: The Sisterhood casts its leads Emily Watson and Shirley Henderson, an image from Dune and of the two actresses
Warner Bros. Pictures/Legendary Pictures/HBO
Other Cast

In addition, Dune: The Sisterhood has revealed five new cast members. Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Faoileann Cunningham , Aoife Hinds, and Chloe Lea have joined the cast, per Deadline.

The publication reveals more about these new characters, noting:

Boussnina plays Princess Ynez, an independent young princess dealing with the pressures of her responsibility as heir to the Golden Lion Throne.

Brune-Franklin portrays Mikaela, a strong-willed Fremen woman who serves the royal family while longing for a home planet she’s never known.

Cunningham is Sister Jen, a fierce, unpredictable acolyte in training at the Sisterhood School who rarely reveals her emotional core.

Hinds plays Sister Emeline, a zealous acolyte descended from a long line of martyrs, who carries fervent religion to her training at the Sisterhood.

Lea portrays Lila, the youngest acolyte at the Sisterhood School with a deep empathy beyond her years.

More About Dune: The Sisterhood

According to a release, the show’s description is as follows:

Set 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, Dune: The Sisterhood follows the Harkonnen Sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled sect known as the Bene Gesserit.

Dune Lady Jessica - an HBO Max Dune TV series or show about the Bene Gesserit is coming soon
Warner Bros. Pictures / Legendary Pictures

As the release mentions, the titular “sisterhood,” references the Bene Gesserit, a mysterious order of women who exist in the book series. The Bene Gesserit form a political and social force, whose members train their bodies and minds to the point that they obtain superhuman abilities. They also seek to help other humans reach enlightenment, but ultimately remain loyal only to themselves.

According to Deadline, “the Bene Gesserit expertly weave through the feudal politics and intrigue of The Imperium, pursuing plans of their own that will ultimately lead them to the enigmatic planet Arrakis — known to its inhabitants as Dune.” In the series and the film, our hero Paul Atreides’ (Timotheé Chalamet) mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) was raised by the Bene Gesserit, but betrays the secretive order in the name of love.

So yeah, not will we get a Dune TV series, but the Dune TV series lies in truly talented hands.

Behind the Scenes

As mentioned, Diane Ademu-John will serve as writer, showrunner, and executive producer. To date, Ademu-John has worked as a writer and producer on shows like The Haunting of Bly ManorEmpireThe Originals, and Crossing Jordan. Meanwhile, the release shares that director Renck has “won two Emmys as director and an executive producer for the HBO limited series Chernobyl, the highest-rated TV show ever on IMDb, which earned a total of 19 Emmy Award nominations and 10 Emmy wins.” He also directed episodes for shows like Vikings, Bloodline, and Breaking Bad. 

Additionally:

Three-time Academy Award nominee Denis Villeneuve, Academy Award-nominated writer Jon Spaihts, Scott Z. Burns, Mark Friedman and Matthew King will executive produce with Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt and Kim Herbert for the Frank Herbert estate. Kevin J. Anderson will co-produce. The series is co-produced by HBO Max and Legendary Television with Legendary also producing the film franchise that released its first installment to critical acclaim in October 2021 and garnered six Academy Awards, including Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Dune's Reverend Mother for Dune Sisterhood TV series article
Warner Bros. Pictures / Legendary Pictures

It’s truly never been a better time to be a Dune fan. We’ll keep you posted as more information about the show becomes available.

Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks 

Originally published on June 10, 2019.

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