PremiumDune: Prophecy plot revealed! Deep dive into the Kwisatz Haderach and Bene Gesserit origins
Dune: Prophecy will explore the origins of the Bene Gesserit and the Kwisatz Haderach prophecy, set long before the time of Paul Atreides.
Last Updated: 02.24 PM, Jul 19, 2024
The title of the newest Dune part, Dune: Prophecy, remains somewhat mysterious, but the show's name provides a hint about the plot. Denis Villenueve adapted Frank Herbert's groundbreaking science fiction novel Dune, and Dune: Prophecy is supposedly a prequel series to that. Dune: Prophecy is a prequel set thousands of years before Dune and Dune: Part Two, as well as Paul Atreides' ascent to power in the Dune universe. Due to its setting so far before Paul's time, Dune: Prophecy features an entirely new group of characters and plot points.
Ambiguity of the title Dune: Prophecy
Dune: Prophecy's title is confusing because it doesn't describe the show. It is unclear from the title, which of Dune's many prophecies—including the one issued to the Fremen on Arrakis by Lisan al Gaib—it alludes to. Furthermore, it fails to reveal crucial details, such as the show's focal characters and the relationship between the show and its prophecy. The positive news is that Dune: Prophecy's title is now more apparent, thanks to the availability of trailers and story material.
The major prophecy in the Dune franchise serves as the inspiration for the title Dune: Prophecy. You guessed it: the prophecy is the Kwisatz Haderach, which predicted the arrival of the next stage of human progress. According to prophecy, the Kwisatz Haderach would be a male Bene Gesserit with the ability to access the genetic memories of both sexes and cross the gap between different eras. Dune: Prophecy will most certainly fill up some of the blanks left by the Dune films on the Kwisatz Haderach prophecy, such as its beginnings and the means by which the Bene Gesserit began to prepare for it.
Focus on the Bene Gesserit's origins
The genesis of the Bene Gesserit is a natural fit for Dune: Prophecy, given that the plot revolves around the Kwisatz Haderach prophecy's early days. The Bene Gesserit's primary objective in the Dune series was to create the Kwisatz Haderach. They achieved this by formulating a plan to selectively breed House Harkonnen and House Atreides offspring over a period of 10,000 years. This scheme, according to the Bene Gesserit, would ensure that the Kwisatz Haderach would be born into an ever-increasing power structure.
Thousands of years before Paul Atreides came to satisfy the Kwisatz Haderach prophecy, the Bene Gesserit had planned his advent with great care and taken on new duties and obligations. When Paul was born, the Bene Gesserit had already established themselves as a powerful political force in the Imperium, with many of its members acting as advisors to the most influential figures in the known universe. Dune: Prophecy will presumably delve into those responsibilities, as well as the Kwisatz Haderach prophecy, and reveal the political manoeuvring and power plays that the early Bene Gesserit engaged in to attain such immense authority.
Dune: Prophecy should also be able to broaden its scope slightly by focusing on the Bene Gesserit. Even though they weren't as strong as groups like the Spacing Guild, the Bene Gesserit were important to the inner workings of the Imperium. It is only fitting that Dune: Prophecy devotes a considerable amount of attention to the techniques by which they manipulated the politics and leaders of the Imperium for their own benefit. In addition to revealing the Bene Gesserit's birthplace, Dune: Prophecy should fill in the gaps left by the Dune films regarding the interactions between the Houses and the Imperium.
Renaming from Sisterhood to Prophecy
Just before the release of Dune: Part Two, the series underwent a renaming from Dune: Sisterhood to Dune: Prophecy, while maintaining its original title. Some have speculated as to the motivation behind the title change, although no one has officially stated it. It's likely that the decision to cancel Sisterhood was a way to hint that Dune would have more than just the Bene Gesserit. Warner Bros. may have changed the name to be more associated with Paul Atreides in an effort to bring the programme in line with Villeneuve's films, which is another possible rationale.
Regardless, it was likely for the best that Sisterhood was replaced with Prophecy. Given that Dune: Prophecy will portray the origins of multiple key groups, including the Bene Gesserit and House Harkonnen, Sisterhood failed to adequately encapsulate the essence of the show. Prophecy also stresses that the show's purpose is to set the stage for future events, providing context for Paul's story and the Dune films. With its title and plot disclosed, Dune: Prophecy has the potential to provide fascinating and useful information about the Dune universe.