Max’s highly anticipated prequel series,Dune: The Sisterhood, will reportedly resume filming in Budapest. This is despite the ongoing Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) strike that has forced a halt to many production projects. The series is on a planned pause to accommodate the chilly Hungarian winter.
Joining HBO’s other hotly tipped continuations—Game of ThronesspinoffHouse of the DragonandIndustry—Dune: The Sisterhoodcan proceed with filming due to its cast being made up almost entirely of Equity contract actors, with a few SAG-AFTRA members present. The recently released SAG-AFTRA guidelines have confirmed that Equity-contracted actors need not halt their work, hence the production’s resilience amidst the strike.
Dune: The Sisterhoodhas had itsshare of turbulence since its inception. Earlier in February, it was reported that the series had suffered the loss of Shirley Henderson, the actress initially cast for the role of Tula Harkonnen, and director Johan Renck, responsible for the initial two episodes.
The production had already been expected to enter a hiatus because of these departures, with insiders suggesting that this could potentially span up to seven months. This upheaval followed the departure of showrunner Diane Ademu-John, whose exit came on the eve of production in late November, triggering significant rewrites. Renck’s directorial style reportedly diverged from HBO Max’s envisioned aesthetic for the series, veering from the tone set by Denis Villeneuve’s films.
Despite these changes, there are notable additions to the cast. Olivia Williams, known for her role inThe Crown, and Jodhi May ofThe Witcherfame have been brought on board the series, presently referred to asDune: The Sisterhood. Williams steps in as Tula Harkonnen, Henderson’s original role, while May replaces Indira Varma, who had been set to play Empress Natalya but had to relinquish the role due to a scheduling conflict.
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Creative Integrity Amidst Real World Chaos
The series is focused on theenigmatic order of women known as the Bene Gesserit. Imbued with remarkable abilities through the control of their bodies and minds, they navigate the maze of feudal politics and subterfuge within The Imperium. They orchestrate their clandestine plans that eventually draw them to the mysterious planet Arrakis, colloquially known as Dune. The cast is filled with talented individuals, including Emily Watson, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Shalom Brune Franklin, Faoileann Cunningham, Aoife Hinds, Chloe Lea, Travis Fimmel, Mark Strong, Jade Anouka, and Chris Mason.
Max stated that the hiatus and reshuffling have all been part of the creative process to ensure the series stays true to the source material. They did not want to compromise the quality either.
As it stands, the show’s prospects are promising, despite the casting shake-ups and the looming industry-wide strike. The series continues, as before, an ambitious endeavor in the expansive and fertile universe ofDune—rich in opportunities for storytelling and capturing the imagination of its audience.
There are no official details about the series' production yet.Dunefans will have to sit back and wait for now.
