Denis Villeneuve's DUNE: THE SISTERHOOD Series Adds Five New Cast Members

The Denis Villeneuve-produced Dune: The Sisterhood series has just added five people to its cast. Sarah-Sofie Boussnina (The Colony), Shalom Brune-Franklin (The Tourist), Faoileann Cunningham (The Northman), Aoife Hinds (Normal People) and Chloe Lea (Foundation) have all joined the HBO Max series. They join the previously cast Emily Watson (Chernobyl) and Shirley Henderson (Harry Potter).

The story is set 10,000 years before Paul Atreides even existed, and it follows the Harkonnen Sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled sect known as the Bene Gesserit. Watson and Henderson will portray Valya Harkonnen and Tula Harkonnen, respectively, the formidable Harkonnen Sisters, who have risen to power in the Sisterhood.

The series is “designed to co-exist” with the Dune films, and the story is told “through the eyes of a mysterious order of women known as the Bene Gesserit. Given extraordinary 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.”

Dune: The Sisterhood was created by Diane Ademu-John (The Haunting of Bly Manor, The Originals, and The Vampire Diaries), who also serves as its showrunner. Alison Schapker serves as co-showrunner and executive producer. Johan Renck (Chernobyl) will direct the premiere episode and executive produce.

John Spaihts, who co-wrote Dune's script, also wrote The Sisterhood, and during a previous interview, he said: "The Bene Gesserit have always been fascinating to me. Focusing a series around that powerful order of women seemed not only relevant and inspiring but a dynamic setting for the television series."