HBO Max’s Dune: The Sisterhood has started production and according to Deadline, series creator and writer Diane Ademu-John (Empire, The Originals) is stepping down as co-showrunner. While she will remain creatively involved in the project as an executive producer, Ademu-John has decided she will focus on other commitments. Alison Schapker (Westworld, Scandal), a veteran TV writer and producer, will remain the sole showrunner after Ademu-John’s departure.
According to Deadline, Schapker is also an executive producer alongside Ademu-John and Johan Renck (Chernobyl, The Last Panthers), who will be directing the first episode. Renck also announced via Instagram that filming started on Tuesday in Budapest.
The show will star Emily Watson (God’s Creatures, Chernobyl) and Shirley Henderson (See How They Run, Harry Potter) as the Harkonnen sisters and Travis Fimmel (Vikings, One Way) will join them as Desmond Hart. Based on Frank Herbert’s (The Godmakers) novel Sisterhood of Dune, the series is set 10,000 years before Paul Atreides’ ascension and follows the Harkonnen sisters who will combat forces that threaten the future of humankind. They are also behind the establishment of the mythical sect the Bene Gesserit.
In addition to Watson, Henderson, and Fimmel, the cast also includes Game of Thrones alum Indira Varma (Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Capture) who will play Empress Natalya; Sarah-Sofie Boussmina (The Colony, Knightfall) as Princess Ynez; Shalom Brune-Franklin (The Tourist, Love Me) who plays Mikaela; Faoileann Cunningham (The Northman) who will be playing Sister Jen; Aoife Hinds (The Long Call, Normal People) as Sister Emeline; and Chloe Lea (Foundation, The Dumping Ground) as Lila.
Among the executive producers is Denis Villeneuve (Dune), who was involved in the production of the 2021 Dune film. Other executive producers include Jon Spaihts (Dune, Passengers), Scott Z. Burns (The Laundromat, Sea of Shadows), Matthew King (Bit Playas, Blackout), John Cameron (Severance, Legion), Cait Collins (The Last Kingdom, The Favourite), and author Brian Herbert (Dune). Serving as executive producers for the Frank Herbert estate are Byron Merritt (Dune) and Kim Herbert (Dune). Author Kevin J. Anderson (Flight 008) is also a co-producer of the show.
Dune: The Sisterhood has no premiere date yet, but it has started production. The 2021 Dune film is available to stream on HBO Max.