The Dune series is a science fiction saga consisting of six novels written by Frank Herbert, with the first publication dating back to 1965. His son, Brian Herbert, in collaboration with Kevin J. Anderson, extended this work by writing 18 additional novels and two short story collections that further explore and deepen the universe imagined by Frank Herbert.
Dune in Cinema, Television, and Streaming
The Dune saga has seen several screen adaptations as well as some projects that never came to fruition. As early as the 1970s, attempts were made to bring this cult work to the big screen. However, the death of producer Arthur P. Jacobs (Planet of the Apes) and the departure of Patrick McGoohan (The Prisoner) caused the first planned adaptations to fail.
A few years later, an ambitious project was initiated under the guidance of French producer Michel Seydoux and Chilean director Alejandro Jodorowsky. This film, which was intended to be a monumental work, was to bring together major artistic talents such as the painter Salvador Dalí, actor Orson Welles, illustrator Jean Giraud, known as Moebius, and Swiss artist H. R. Giger. However, due to insufficient funding, this visionary project never materialized. Some of the graphic material designed by Moebius and Giger was reused in iconic films like Blade Runner and Alien. This unfinished project was the subject of a documentary titled Jodorowsky’s Dune, released in 2013, which highlighted the scope and ambition of this failed adaptation.
In 1984, David Lynch directed a film based on the first novel. In the early 2000s, a television series directed by John Harrison was produced. The franchise returned in full force in 2021 with a new film adaptation by Denis Villeneuve, starring Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet. In 2024, HBO announced Dune: Prophecy, a new series that will delve deeper into the origins of the Dune universe.
Movies Based on the Original Cycle: Dune Part 1 and 2
Based on the first novel in the original series, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune Part 1 and 2 tell the story of a feudal interstellar empire where several noble houses vie for control of the planet Arrakis, also known as Dune. Although this desert planet is inhospitable, it is the only source of the Spice, a precious substance essential for space navigation. The Spice is found only on Arrakis, the “desert planet,” which its native inhabitants, the Fremen, call Dune. The story explores the complex interactions between different factions, blending technology, politics, and religion.
Series Dune: Prophecy
Based on the book Sisterhood of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, HBO’s original series Dune: Prophecy will include six episodes and take place 10,000 years before the birth of Paul Atreides. At that time, the Bene Gesserit order does not yet exist, and the plot will explore the creation of this powerful sisterhood, which will gradually gain influence through power games and sacrifices within the Imperium, eventually becoming one of the most important political forces in the galaxy.
The Universe of Dune: Houses, Orders, and Peoples
The Dune saga describes three main Houses: the Atreides, the Harkonnen, and the Corrino.
• House Atreides: One of the Great Noble Houses of the Imperium, known for its honor, justice, and ethics. Originating from Caladan, a fertile and water-rich world, the Atreides rule benevolently and earn the respect and loyalty of their subjects. In the original series, Duke Leto Atreides leads the house alongside Lady Jessica, an influential member of the Bene Gesserit, with whom he has two children, Paul and Alia.
• House Harkonnen: Powerful and ruthless, House Harkonnen hails from the planet Giedi Prime and is known for its political intrigue and brutality. Under the leadership of Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, the house is the sworn enemy of the Atreides. The Harkonnens use manipulation and violence in their bid for domination.
• House Corrino: This house has ruled the Imperium for millennia through the Padishah Emperors. Their home planet, Salusa Secundus, is a prison planet, famous for training the fearsome Sardaukar, an elite army. Emperor Shaddam IV, who reigns during the events of the first novel Dune, is manipulated by the Spacing Guild and the Bene Gesserit.
The Bene Gesserit Order
The Bene Gesserit is an ancient, exclusively female organization, known for its political influence as well as its extraordinary physical and mental abilities. Their millennia-long mission aims to create a supreme being, the Kwisatz Haderach, capable of seeing across space and time. With their techniques of mental and physical control, the Bene Gesserit subtly manipulate the Great Houses, playing a key role in the development of the Imperium. Their discipline, “Prana-Bindu,” gives them total control over their bodies.
Central Themes: Houses, Orders, and Intrigues
Together, these houses and this order shape the complex plot of the Dune cycles, which are marked by alliances, betrayals, and power struggles. The values of House Atreides, based on honor and benevolence, contrast with the despotic and manipulative methods of the Harkonnens and Corrinos. This dynamic deeply influences the events of the series and shapes the complex universe of Dune.
