Writer Jon Spaihts trades one Dune project for another

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Warner Bros. and Legendary have ambitious plans for their adaptations of Frank Herbert's series of Dune novels. While director Denis Villeneuve is working to bring two DUNE feature films to the big screen, there's also a television series called Dune: The Sisterhood in the works at the HBO Max streaming service.

That's too much Dune for screenwriter Jon Spaihts to deal with at once. Although Spaihts had been set to serve as showrunner on Dune: The Sisterhood, he has had to leave that position so he can focus on writing the second feature film. The Hollywood Reporter's sources informed them that Spaihts had turned in one script and a revised outline for Dune: The Sisterhood, and Legendary TV wasn't happy with his work. So the decision was made that he was better off sticking with the features.

The search is now on for a replacement showrunner. Whenever someone else takes on that job and Dune: The Sisterhood is ready to go into production, Villeneuve will be directing the pilot episode.

Spaihts' association with the DUNE franchise began when he was brought in to help Villeneuve whittle down the 200 page draft Eric Roth had turned in for the first film.

The DUNE film stars Timothee Chalamet as

Paul Atreides, whose family assumes control of the desert planet Arrakis. As the only producer of a highly valuable resource, jurisdiction over Arrakis is contested among competing noble families. After Paul and his family are betrayed, the story explores themes of politics, religion, and man’s relationship with nature, as Paul leads a rebellion to restore his family’s reign.

Chalamet is joined in the cast by Rebecca Ferguson as Paul's mother Lady Jessica, Oscar Isaac as his father Duke Leto Atreides, Stellan Skarsgard as the villainous Baron Harkonnen, Dave Bautista as Harkonnen's brutish nephew Glossu Rabban, Charlotte Rampling as the emperor's truthsayer Reverend Mother Mohiam, Javier Bardem as helpful tribe leader Stilgar, Josh Brolin as troubadour-swordsman Gurney Halleck, Jason Momoa as swordmaster Duncan Idaho, David Dastmalchian as the twisted Piter De Vries, Chang Chen as Atreides family physician Dr. Yueh, and Zendaya as Chani Kynes, "the girl of Paul's dreams". 

Dune: The Sisterhood will explore the world of Herbert's novels 

through the eyes of a mysterious order of women: the Bene Gesserit. Given abilities by their mastery of the body and the mind, the Bene Gesserit expertly weave through the feudal politics and intrigue of The Imperium, pursuing plans of their own that will ultimately lead them to the enigmatic planet Arrakis — known to its inhabitants as Dune.

Spaihts will still be serving as an executive producer on The Sisterhood alongside Villeneuve, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, and Kim Herbert. Kevin J. Anderson is co-producing.

The first DUNE film is scheduled to reach theatres on December 18, 2020.

Legendary is also planning to expand the Dune brand with video games, comic books, and digital content packages.