Dune: Prophecy showrunner Alison Schapker aims to continue the momentum of the Dune movies with a prequel series exploring the origins of the Bene Gesserit. The series, set 10,000 years before Paul Atreides’ birth, will delve into the history of the Bene Gesserit and their fight for power.

For Dune fans, it’s a moment to savor, as Dune: Prophecy aims to take viewers on an exciting prequel journey that adds even more depth to the universe established by Frank Herbert. Showrunner Alison Schapker is determined to match the movies’ energy with a compelling narrative that brings something fresh to the lore. “It’s an amazing time to be a Dune fan. I want to continue that momentum, to have you go enjoy the films where they are,” Schapker says in an exclusive interview with GamesRadar+ at New York Comic Con. “We’re in our own medium, and that’s a different kind of storytelling.”

Schapker wants the prequel series, set to premiere on Max this month, to provide fans with more than just a history lesson. She adds, “But I want it to be just as fun when you turn on your TV and feel like it gave you a lot to think about, but also a real ride and characters to care about. So I hope we can earn our little corner of the universe.”

The prequel series, Dune: Prophecy, takes place 10,000 years before the birth of Paul Atreides and is based loosely on the novels Great Schools of Dune and Sisterhood of Dune by Brian Herbert. It dives into the aftermath of a massive war among the universe’s Houses, a conflict fueled by the rise of destructive “thinking machines.” The Harkonnen House comes out on the losing end of this battle and is banished along with the tech that drove the war. A young Valya, portrayed by Jessica Barden, becomes determined to restore her family’s place in the universe. In the present timeline, Valya (now played by Emily Watson) is the Mother Superior of the Sisterhood that will ultimately evolve into the Bene Gesserit. But her struggle for power and her vision for the Sisterhood are far from over.

Schapker is thrilled to expand on one of the most enigmatic aspects of the Dune universe: the Bene Gesserit. “I think even Denis Villeneuve would say how important and how charismatic and how intriguing the Bene Gesserit are,” she explains. Villeneuve’s recent Dune films depict the Bene Gesserit as mysterious and almost untouchable, but for Schapker, the appeal of delving deeper into their origins was irresistible. “When it came time to branch out, telling an origin story of the Bene Gesserit, it just felt so exciting. Because who doesn’t want to know a little bit more about these women?”

With its focus on rich character development, inter-house rivalries, and a pivotal piece of Dune lore, Schapker hopes Dune: Prophecy will earn a place alongside Denis Villeneuve’s film adaptations, building a bridge between book lovers, movie fans, and those eager for more stories set in the vast universe of Dune.

Dune: Prophecy will debut on Max on November 17, offering a fresh look at the women whose mysterious power and influence will shape the future of the known universe.