When Is Dune: Prophecy Set & Is It a Prequel to Part 2?

by

As a seasoned gamer and Dune fanatic with countless hours spent navigating the vast expanse of Arrakis, I must say that HBO’s “Dune: Prophecy” has truly piqued my interest. Being well-versed in the intricate timeline of the Dune franchise, I can confidently confirm that this series is indeed a prequel to Denis Villeneuve’s masterful adaptations.

Fans are curious about the timeline placement of Dune: Prophecy, having aired on HBO and streamable now on Max, as the story unfolds around siblings Valya and Tula Harkonnen who significantly impact humanity’s history alongside the Bene Gesserit. This leaves viewers pondering whether this show is a continuation or an earlier tale compared to Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films.

Is Dune: Prophecy a prequel and when is it set?

Dune: Prophecy serves as a prelude to Denis Villeneuve’s films Dune: Part One (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024), as well as the upcoming Dune: Messiah. The narrative starts by illustrating the occurrences of the Great War against intelligent machines, which took place 10,264 years before Paul Atreides’ birth, a character played by Timothée Chalamet in Villeneuve’s movies.

The story later flashes forward several years to depict the death of Raquella Berto-Anirul, the first Mother Superior of the Bene Gesserit Order. After this event, there’s a time leap of 30 years, following the killing of Dorotea who was Raquella’s successor. This takes us to a time that is 116 years after the war with intelligent machines ended in human victory and an astounding 10,148 years before Paul was born.

Villeneuve’s Dune films are based on Frank Herbert’s book series with the same title, while the foundation for Dune: Prophecy is Sisterhood of Dune, a 2012 novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. This novel serves as the initial part of the Great Schools of Dune prequel trilogy.

In the Dune series, the Bene Gesserit Order was established during the chaotic period following the Butlerian Jihad or the Great Revolt – a conflict between humans and artificial intelligence that once enslaved them. This occurred between 201 years before the Guild existed and 108 years before it. Interestingly, the character Paul was born in 10176 years after the establishment of the Guild as per the storyline.

Historically, a relative of Paul’s had been instrumental in securing human triumph during a war, whereas a Harkonnen chose to abandon the battlefield. After the conflict ended, all intelligent machines were declared illegal. This turn of events tarnished the Harkonnens as cowards, which fueled animosity that persisted for generations between them and the Atreides. In Dune: Prophecy, Valya and Tula aim to restore their family’s influence and maintain their faction’s power over the Imperium.

Read More

2024-11-18 08:40