Emily Watson & Shirley Henderson to star.

Watson and Henderson will portray Valya Harkonnen and Tula Harkonnen, respectively, the formidable Harkonnen Sisters, who have risen to power in the Sisterhood, a secret organization of women who will go on to become the Bene Gesserit.

The series, which is based on Frank Herbert’s classic novel, is set 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides and follows the Harkonnen Sisters, played by Watson and Henderson, as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled sect known as the Bene Gesserit.

Johan Renck (“Chernobyl”) will direct the first two episodes. Villeneuve was originally going to direct the pilot, but is hard at work on the Dune sequel instead.

Diane Ademu-John (“The Haunting of Bly Manor”) will serve as writer, showrunner, and executive producer of the upcoming Dune spinoff series from HBO Max.