Is there a Dune: Prophecy Episode 7? HBO schedule

Emily Watson in Dune: ProphecyHBO

Over 10,000 years before Paul Atreides put his hand in the box, Dune: Prophecy explores the origins of the Bene Gesserit – but you may be disappointed if you’re waiting for Episode 7 on HBO & Max.

Frank Herbert’s unwieldy, enormous sci-fi tome may have forsaken Alejandro Jodorowsky and David Lynch, but Denis Villeneuve did the impossible with Dune Part 1 and 2: he made comprehensive, epic movies worthy of their source material.

While Villeneuve develops Dune 3, Warner Bros and HBO have kicked off a Game of Thrones-esque expansion of the universe with Dune: Prophecy, a spinoff set long before the reign of the Lisan Al-Gaib.

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However, if you just watched Episode 6 and can’t wait to tune in next week, we have bad news.

Dune: Prophecy ended with Episode 6

Dune: Prophecy Season 1 ended with Episode 6, which aired on Sunday, December 22. There is no Episode 7.

However, I do have good news: Dune: Prophecy Season 2 has been given the green light, so more episodes are on the way!

“Dune: Prophecy has captivated audiences around the globe thanks to the visionary leadership of showrunner and executive producer Alison Schapker, who will continue to guide this grand tale of truth and power,” Sarah Aubrey, Head of Max Original Programming, said in a statement.

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“We are incredibly grateful to our partners at Legendary and to our extraordinary cast and crew for their service to the Imperium. We’re excited to collaborate with this team again to see what they have in store.”

Jason Clodfelter, Legendary’s President of Television, added: “This new season will allow us to continue building out the groundbreaking, epic Dune franchise that has captivated audiences worldwide across its installments.

“We look forward to continuing our incredible partnership with HBO and are thrilled for Alison Schapker, her team, and the cast and crew who have worked so passionately to bring this world-class source material from Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson to life.”

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How many episodes are there?

There are six episodes of Dune: Prophecy to look forward to, notably less than The Penguin and House of the Dragon.

Jessica Barden as young Valya in Dune ProphecyHBO

While it was a drawback with HOTD, it should be seen as a positive thing for the new series: it could mean that showrunner Alison Schapker (who also worked on Westworld, Alias, and Lost) hasn’t outstretched the story to fit an 8/10-episode remit, and it won’t run out of steam by its finale.

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Dune: Prophecy release schedule

Emily Watson in Dune: ProphecyHBO

Every episode of Dune: Prophecy will arrive on HBO and Max on Sundays, while viewers in international territories will have to stay up late or wake up early on Mondays to watch the series. You can find the full release schedule below:

  • Episode 1: ‘The Hidden Hand’ – Aired Sunday, November 17
  • Episode 2: ‘Two Wolves’ – Aired Sunday, November 24
  • Episode 3: ‘Sisterhood Above All’ – Aired Sunday, December 1
  • Episode 4: ‘Twice Born’ – Aired Sunday, December 8
  • Episode 5: ‘In Blood, Truth’ – Aired Sunday, December 15
  • Episode 6: ‘The High-Handed Enemy’ – Sunday, December 22

Both of Villeneuve’s Dune movies are also available to stream on Max, so if you get bored in the week-long wait for new episodes, you know what to do.

Dune: Prophecy plot explained

Desmond Hart in Dune: ProphecyHBO

Dune: Prophecy is set 10,000 years before the events of the Dune films; specifically, the birth of Paul Atreides.

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It’s a similar setup to House of the Dragon, a Game of Thrones prequel set nearly 200 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen, exploring a crucial saga in the universe’s history.

As per the show’s logline, it “follows two Harkonnen sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit.”

I can give you a little more detail (but not too much): there’s Valya Harkonnen, the leader of the Sisterhood (the collective that will eventually become the Bene Gesserit), and her sister Tula, her better-tempered sister who doesn’t always see eye-to-eye with Valya’s ruthless ambitions.

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Emily Watson and Olivia Williams in Dune ProphecyHBO

Elsewhere, there’s also Javvico Corrino, the first Emperor of the Imperium in the wake of the war against “thinking machines” and current custodian of Arrakis – which, as we know, comes with its own set of problems. And then there’s Desmond Hart, a “charismatic soldier with an enigmatic past” and mysterious abilities… but that’s about as much as I can say right now.

While Dune: Prophecy is based on a book, it’s not a one-to-one adaptation. Instead, it’s informed by the source material while having the freedom to tell its own version of the Bene Gesserit story.

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“There are so many things in Dune that last 10,000 years. There is the creation of Paul Atreides, which takes many millennia and generations to bring about somebody who steps into that role,” Schapker told Screen Rant.

“There’s the feud between the Harkonnens and the Atreides; also 10,000 years. How did that start? And then, of course, there’s the Corrinos, who hold the Golden Lion Throne for 10,000 years. It really is not a stretch to say we are looking at the origin points of what will eventually [be Dune].”

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Dune: Prophecy cast

Javicco and Natalya in Dune: ProphecyHBO

Emily Watson leads the Dune: Prophecy cast as Valya Harkonnen, with Olivia Williams playing her sister Tula. Other stars and characters include:

  • Mark Strong as Javicco Corrino
  • Jodhi May as Empress Natalya, Javicco’s wife
  • Sarah-Sofie Boussnina as Princess Nyez, who’s scouted by the Sisterhood
  • Travis Fimmel as Desmond Hart, a mysterious soldier with an axe to grind with the Sisterhood
  • Chris Mason as Keiran Atreides, a Swordmaster who works for the royal family
  • Jade Anouka as Sister Theodosia, a talented and ambitious acolyte
  • Aoife Hunds as Sister Emeline, a zealous acolyte
  • Faoileann Cunningham as Sister Jen, a fierce and unpredictable acolyte
  • Chloe Lea as Lila, the youngest acolyte in the Sisterhood
  • Shalom Brune-Franklin as Mikaela, a Fremen woman who serves the royal family
  • Josh Heuston as Lord Constantine, Javvico’s son
  • Jessica Barden as young Valya
  • Emma Canning as young Tula

Speaking at NYCC, Watson described Valya as a “mother figure, but not in a comforting way. Valya’s approach to mentorship is to challenge and push those around her to their limits, especially in the Sisterhood. It’s about survival, preparing them for what’s to come.”

“Because Valya is so powerful and has such a powerful mind, she really does become a tool of the Sisterhood to shape humanity – and that’s how charismatic leaders work. They prey on people who are vulnerable and angry and all of those things,” she also told Screen Rant.

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Don’t expect to see anyone from the Dune movies. The show is thousands of years apart from the films, so while there’s a possibility that footage from Villeneuve’s Dune could be woven into the fabric of Prophecy, it’s highly unlikely Timothée Chalamet and co. will appear in any capacity.

For more content, check out why Salusa Secundus looks so different, read more about Face Dancers, the Atreides and Harkonnen family tree, and our breakdown of the Water of Life. You can also check out our list of the best TV shows of 2024.

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