DUNE: THE SISTERHOOD: Emily Watson & Shirley Henderson cast in HBO Max’s DUNE Spin-off TV Series

Emily Watson and Shirley Henderson cast in Dune: The Sisterhood

Emily Watson and Shirley Henderson have been cast in HBO Max‘s Dune: The Sisterhood. Emily Watson has been cast as Valya Harkonnen and Shirley Henderson has been cast as Tula Harkonnen. Both of these characters are sisters. The Harkonnen Sisters have risen to power in the Sisterhood, a secret organization of women who will go on to become the Bene Gesserit, fabled sect that combats forces that threaten the future of humankind.

On the Bene Gesserit

“The Bene Gesserit are focused on acquiring more power and influence to direct humanity on an enlightened path. Sometimes called “witches” due to their secretive nature and misunderstood powers, the Bene Gesserit are loyal only to themselves and their collective goals. However, to attain their goals and avoid outside interference, they often screen themselves with the illusion of being loyal to other groups or individuals. Their every move is calculated toward a result. As the skills of a Bene Gesserit are as desirable as an alliance with the Sisterhood itself, they are able to charge a fee to school the women from Great Houses, and install some of their initiates as wives and concubines to their advantage.

In Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel Dune, the Bene Gesserit are a secretive matriarchal order who have achieved superhuman abilities through physical and mental conditioning and the use of the drug melange. Under the guise of humbly “serving” the Empire, the Sisterhood is in fact a major power in the universe, using its many areas of influence to subtly guide humanity along the path of its own plan for humanity’s future. Herbert notes that over 10,000 years before the events of Dune, in the chaotic time after the Butlerian Jihad and before the unveiling of the Orange Catholic Bible, the Bene Gesserit “consolidated their hold upon the sorceresses, explored the subtle narcotics, developed prana-bindu training and conceived the Missionaria Protectiva, that black arm of superstition. But it is also the period that saw the composing of the litany against fear and the assembly of the Azhar Book, that bibliographic marvel that preserves the great secrets of the most ancient faiths.”

Crew

“Diane Ademu-John serves as creator, writer, co-showrunner and executive producer. Alison Schapker serves as co-showrunner and executive producer. Johan Renck will direct the premiere episode and executive produce. Denis Villeneuve, who directed, co-wrote and produced the 2021 Dune film, is executive producing with Jon Spaihts, Scott Z. Burns, Matthew King, John Cameron and Cait Collins, along with author Brian Herbert. Byron Merritt and Kim Herbert serve as executive producers for the Frank Herbert estate. Author Kevin J. Anderson serves as co-producer.

The series is co-produced by HBO Max and Legendary Television, the TV arm of Legendary which is behind the current film franchise.”

Premiere Date

Dune: The Sisterhood has no premiere date set yet on HBO Max.

Leave your thoughts on Dune: The Sisterhood casting news below in the comments section. Readers seeking to support this type of content can visit our Patreon Page and become one of FilmBook’s patrons. Readers seeking more HBO Max can visit our HBO Max Page, our HBO Max Twitter Page, and our HBO Max Facebook Page. Readers seeking more TV show news can visit our TV Show News Page, our TV Show News Twitter Page, and our TV Show News Facebook Page.

Want up-to-the-minute notification? FilmBook staff members publish articles by Email, Feedly, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest, Reddit, Telegram, and Flipboard.