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EXCLUSIVE: Filming will get underway next month in Budapest, Hungary, on anticipated prequel series Dune: The Sisterhood (working title) from HBO Max and Legendary Television.

Dune has been a sci-fi classic for decades but a whole new generation has discovered its influence thanks to director Denis Villeneuve.Frank Herbert’s original 1965 novel has spawned an entire book series, several film and TV adaptations, along with various video games set in the world of Arrakis.Director Denis Villeneuve’s film duology based on the first book, however, marks the most successful adaptation yet. The 2021 film received a nomination for Best Picture at the Oscars, while Dune: Part Two hit $200million worldwide in its opening weekend.The films star Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Zendaya and Javier Bardem.There are technically 23 books in the entire Dune saga, but only six of these have been written by original author Frank Herbert.

Anya Taylor-Joy will be seen on screen in Dune: Part 2, in a surprise casting revealed the day of the film’s London world premiere, Deadline has confirmed.

Director Denis Villeneuve is hopeful of making Dune a trilogy and is teasing the possibility of “Part Three” coming alive.

EXCLUSIVE: Max’s Dune prequel series Dune: The Sisterhood is set to relaunch production in Budapest “any day now” and will continue throughout the course of the WGA and SAG strikes, a source close to the show tells Deadline.

Selome Hailu Olivia Williams and Jodhi May have been cast in Max’s “Dune: The Sisterhood” (working title) following the exits of previously announced cast members Shirley Henderson and Indira Varma. Henderson departed the series amid “creative changes” made in February, while Varma’s departure was due to scheduling conflicts. Additionally, Anna Foerster is now set as a director on the series, replacing Johan Renck, who departed at the same time as Henderson. In November, series creator Diane Ademu-John stepped down as co-showrunner, but she remains involved as executive producer.

EXCLUSIVE: Olivia Williams (The Crown) and Jodhi May (The Witcher) have joined the cast of the Max Original series Dune: The Sisterhood (w/t).

Ellise Shafer HBO Max’s “Dune” prequel spinoff “The Sisterhood” is going through some changes. Both director Johan Renck and star Shirley Henderson have exited the HBO Max series, Variety has confirmed. The news comes as the production takes a “pre-scheduled hiatus,” according to the streamer. “There are some creative changes being made to the production in an effort to create the best series possible and stay true to the source material,” a HBO Max representative said in a statement. “Johan Renck has completed his work on the series and a new director will be brought on; through mutual agreement Johan is moving on to pursue other projects. Additionally, Shirley Henderson will be exiting the series and will no longer be playing Tula Harkonnen.”

Tim Blake Nelson is the newest addition to the cast of Dune: Part 2, Deadline can confirm. 

Mark Strong (1917, Kingsman films), Jade Anouka (His Dark Materials, Small Axe) and Chris Mason (Broadchurch, Dirty John) have been cast opposite Emily Watson, Shirley Henderson and Travis Fimmel in HBO Max’s series Dune: The Sisterhood (wt), from Legendary Television.

EXCLUSIVE: As HBO Max’s Dune: The Sisterhood (wt) moves into production, series creator and writer Diane Ademu-John is stepping down as co-showrunner. She will remain creatively involved in the prequel as executive producer but will focus on other commitments. Veteran TV writer-producer Alison Schapker, who has served as co-showrunner with Ademu-John, will now be the sole showrunner for the series.

Travis Fimmel has been tapped as the male lead opposite Emily Watson and Shirley Henderson in HBO Max’s series Dune: The Sisterhood (wt), from Legendary Television.

Sarah-Sofie Boussnina (The Colony), Shalom Brune-Franklin (The Tourist), Faoileann Cunningham (The Northman), Aoife Hinds (Normal People) and Chloe Lea (Foundation) have joined the cast of HBO Max’s Dune: The Sisterhood (wt), from Legendary Television. They join previously announced leads Emily Watson, Shirley Henderson and Indira Varma.

“There’s a lot of work around, I’ve been busy,” Emily Watson declared, brightly, over tea and crumbly biscuits at The Union, a private club in central London, as she chatted with Deadline about why she loves working in front of the camera.

Selome Hailu Indira Varma has been cast as Empress Natalya in “Dune: The Sisterhood” (working title), HBO Max’s upcoming “Dune” prequel series co-produced with Legendary Television. Empress Natalya is described as a formidable royal who united thousands of worlds in her marriage to Emperor Corrino. Varma is best known for playing Ellaria Sand in four seasons of “Game of Thrones” and recently starred as Tala Durith in “Obi-Wan Kenobi.” Other prominent credits include “Luther” on BBC and “Paranoid” on ITV and Netflix. Up next, Varma will appear in “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” and “Extrapolations” on Apple TV+. She is reppedmby Gersh, Principal Entertainment LA and James Adams.

EXCLUSIVE: Game Of Thrones, Obi-Wan and Carnival Row actress Indira Varma is the third actor to join anticipated prequel series Dune: The Sisterhood (working title) from HBO Max and Legendary Television.

Emily Watson and Shirley Henderson will lead the “Dune” prequel series at HBO Max. Watson and Henderson have been cast as Valya Harkonnen and Tula Harkonnen, described by the streamer as “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.”The prequel series, titled “Dune: The Sisterhood,” is set 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides and follows the Harkonnen Sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind and establish the fabled sect known as the Bene Gesserit.The series is adapted from the novel “Sisterhood of Dune” by Brian Herbert and Kevin J.

Dune prequel series is on the way, with Emily Watson and Shirley Henderson cast in the lead roles.Dune: The Sisterhood will take place 10,000 years before Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet in Denis Villeneuve’s recent film) rose to the throne, and will focus on the Harkonnen Sisters.The story is based on the 2012 sci-fi novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, taking place in the same Dune universe created by Herbert’s father, Frank Herbert.Watson and Henderson will play Valyva and Tula Harkonnen, Deadline reports, who are the sisters who rise to power within the Sisterhood that goes on to become the Bene Gesserit.In Villeneuve’s film, Charlotte Rampling plays Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam, a Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother who tests Paul before he leaves for Atreides.The Sisterhood was created, written and executive produced by Diana Ademu-John, who will also serve as a co-runner of the show alongside Alison Schapker.Villeneuve is an executive producer on the series as well, alongside Jon Spaihts, Scott Z.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter The “Dune” prequel series at HBO Max from Legendary Television has cast Emily Watson and Shirley Henderson in lead roles, Variety has learned. Officially titled “Dune: The Sisterhood,” the series was ordered at HBO Max in June 2019. The show is set 10,000 years before the events of “Dune” and is based on the novel “Sisterhood of Dune” by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Per the official logline, the show “follows the Harkonnen Sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled sect known as the Bene Gesserit” Watson will play Valya Harkonnen and Henderson will play Tula Harkonnen. The character descriptions say the two sisters “have risen to power in the Sisterhood, a secret organization of women who will go on to become the Bene Gesserit.”

Emily Watson (Chernobyl, God’s Creatures) and Shirley Henderson (Harry Potter, Stan & Ollie) will lead the cast of HBO Max’s Dune: The Sisterhood (wt), from Legendary Television.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Entertainment film Dune: Part Two has begun production, reports Business Wire. 

EXCLUSIVE: Souheila Yacoub has joined the cast of Warner Bros. and Legendary’s Dune: Part Two. Yacoub will join the all-star ensemble that includes Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya and Josh Brolin, who are expected to reprise their roles, as well Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken and Austin Butler, who were also recently announced. Denis Villeneuve is back to write, direct and produce. Jon Spaihts will return to co-write with Villeneuve. Yacoub will play Shishakli.

EXCLUSIVE: Striking while the iron’s hot following her critically acclaimed performances at the recent Cannes Film Festival, Denis Villeneuve has tapped Léa Seydoux play Lady Margot in Warner Bros. and Legendary’s Dune: Part Two. Seydoux is currently in negotiations and will join the all-star ensemble that includes Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya and Josh Brolin, who are expected to reprise their roles, as well Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken and Austin Butler, who were also recently announced. Villeneuve is back to write, direct and produce. Spaihts will return to co-write with Villeneuve.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Dune” prequel series at HBO Max has brought Johan Renck onboard to direct the first two episodes.Renck will also serve as an executive producer on the show, currently titled “Dune: The Sisterhood.” It was ordered straight-to-series at HBO Max in June 2019. Previously, “Dune” director and co-writer Denis Villeneuve was attached to direct the pilot for “Dune: The Sisterhood,” but his work on the “Dune” sequel film will prevent him from doing so.The show is set 10,000 years prior to the events of “Dune” and follows the Harkonnen Sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled sect known as the Bene Gesserit.Renck won two Emmys for his work on the critically-acclaimed HBO limited series “Chernobyl” — one as an executive producer when the show won best limited series and another for best directing for a limited series, as he directed all five episodes.

Johan Renck, the Emmy Award-winner behind HBO series Chernobyl, is to direct the first two episodes of Dune: The Sisterhood (w/t).

EXCLUSIVE:  Francis Lawrence is set to direct the feature take of Kevin J. Anderson and Steven L. Sears’ Stalag-X following New Republic Pictures winning the graphic novel’s rights.