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Dune Prophecy is a prequel to both Dune Part One and Dune Part Two – well, the story to be told would last rather longer than a single movie, set over 100 centuries beforehand, and is shot in a 2.00:1 aspect ratio, unlike the multiple ones used by Denis Villeneuve.
We’re given a backstory of how Victory is celebrated in the light, but it is won in the darkness.. and what holds more truth: history or prophecy?
Humans rose up against The thinking machines that enslaved them, but now, they’ve been banished to a desolate landscape.
The Atreides history that’s written is said to be full of lies, and Valya Harkonnen (Emily Watson, initially played by Jessica Barden, before time moves on 30 years later, 116 eas after the end of the great machine wars, and 10,148 years before the birth of Paul Atrieides), will set out to change it, made up of women not afraid of their power, and they’ll use it to govern the future.
Starting off at Wallach IX: Homeworld of the Sisterhood, before moving on to Salusa Secundus – Homeworld of the Imperial House, where fighting training takes place, much like the films, most of the time, I’ve no idea what’s going on, but it looks superb, and you can rest assured that you don’t have to spend almost three hours on your bum without paying a visit, while sat cheek-by-jowl to another member of the public.
It’s a good job I made notes while watching Dune Prophecy, since without going into detail, when Valya needs to, she can easily prove just how very persuasive she can be, although even when she has it in for just one individual, pity the poor townfolk, for whom whole areas can be swept away by a sandworm’s huge mouth popping up out of the ground!
I would say this is a 15-cert for some violent scenes, and brief sex. I can understand the films were toned down to a 12-cert for fans of Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya to get their kicks from, both films were huge and a third film, Dune: Messiah, is in the planning.
There’s even a sex scene where a woman covers up her breasts, just after she’s had them out on show for the world to see. This would never happen in real life. I guess it’s just in case another network shows it further down the line, and they want to cut the hanky panky, but keep the conversation that follows.
For this, I’ve seen the first two episodes of Dune Prophecy, and for someone who’s only seen the two recent movies, but hasn’t read any of the books or even seen the David Lynch film, it’s something I can take or leave. I watch it, it’s stunning, but I have zero idea of what’s going on, or how certain scenes relate to others, or why that person’s doing that.
And I wonder if anyone acting in this has any idea what’s going on, too?
Naturally, I’m avoiding spoilers, but then even if I was to spoil anyway, I’d have to understand it, first.
Finally, if you’re enamoured with the ‘Duniverse’ (and if that’s not already a thing, then I’m copyrighting it, now!), you’ll no doubt love this, but for me, I’ll have to confusingly pass on this. However, I do wish Warner would mirror what they did with the 4K Ultimate Edition of Batman Vs Superman, and released the IMAX 1.43:1 versions of the two films!
Thanks to our friends at Sky for the screener prior to release.
Dune Prophecy is on Sky Atlantic/HBO from Monday November 18th, at the rate of one new episode per week. Each episode will normally air at 9pm, but also premieres earlier in the day, at 2am, making it available at the exact time it is in the US.
It’s not yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD, but when it is, it will be listed on the New DVD, Blu-ray, 3D and 4K releases UK page.
However, you can buy the novel on which this is based, Sisterhood Of Dune.
Series Directors: Anna Foerster, John Cameron, Richard J Lewis
Writers: Kor Adana, Diane Ademu-John, Kevin J Anderson, Leah Benavides Rodriguez, Jordan Goldberg, Carlito Rodriguez
Novel: Brian Herbert
Characters: Frank Herbert
Cast:
Valya Harkonnen: Emily Watson
Tula Harkonnen: Olivia Williams
Desmond Hart: Travis Fimmel
Empress Natalya: Jodhi May
Emperor Javicco Corrino: Mark Strong
Princess Ynez: Sarah-Sofie Boussnina
Young Valya Harkonnen: Jessica Barden
Constantine Corrino: Josh Heuston
Sister Theodosia: Jade Anouka
Sister Emeline: Aoife Hinds
Keiran Atreides: Chris Mason
Mikaela: Shalom Brune-Franklin
Sister Francesca: Tabu
Reverend Mother Dorotea: Camilla Beeput
Hagal Truthsayer: Sarah Lam
Lila: Chloe Lea
Sister Jen: Faoileann Cunningham
Truthsayer Vera: Flora Montgomery
Lady Shannon Richese: Tessa Bonham Jones
Orla Richese: Laura Howard
Lord Hagal: Callum Coates
Harrow Harkonnen: Edward Davis
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.