Dune: HBO Max prequel series finds its new showrunner

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

The Dune prequel series that was set up at HBO Max has found its new showrunner. It has been announced, per "Variety", that Diane Ademu-John has been brought on in the role of writer, showrunner, and executive producer.

Dune: The Sisterhood was ordered straight-to-series at HBO Max back in June of 2019 and Jon Spaihts was previously attached to run the show, but he stepped down in November 2019 to focus on writing the script for the second Dune film. Dune, set to be released on October 22, 2021, was always intended to be the first half of the epic story with the film essentially split into two parts.

The prequel series is set in the universe of Frank Herbert's "Dune" novel series and is told through the eyes of the mysterious order of women known as the Bene Gesserit. Given extraordinary abilities by their mastery of the body and the mind, 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. The show is said to be a direct prequel to the Dune films.

Denis Villeneuve is attached to direct the pilot for the series and he will executive produce along with Spaihts, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, and Kim Herbert. As for new showrunner Ademu-John. she most recently worked as an executive producer and writer on the Netflix series The Haunting of Bly Manor. Her prior credits include shows such as Empire, The Originals, The Vampire Diaries, Medium, and Crossing Jordan. 

This is a big day for Dune. The new trailer was just released this morning for the film starring Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Zendaya Stellan Skarsgård, and Dave Bautista, among others. Fans will get to experience that film when it's released in theaters and on HBO Max on October 22, 2021.

What are YOUR thoughts on the Dune prequel series?