Dune's HBO Max spin-off sets leads

Dune
(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

HBO Max's upcoming spinoff series Dune: The Sisterhood has found its leads.

Emily Watson (Chornobyl, The Third Day) and Shirley Henderson (Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter film franchise and the voice of Babu Frik in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker) are set to star as Valya Harkonnen and Tula Harkonnen, respectively.

Set 10,000 years before the events of 2021's Dune, the series will follow the Harkonnen sisters as they rise to power within the Sisterhood, a secret organization of women who will go on to become the Bene Gesserit, and combat deadly forces that threaten the future of mankind (via Deadline). 

Diane Ademu-John (The Haunting of Bly Manor, Empire) and Alison Schapker (Fringe, Altered Carbon) serve as co-showrunners and executive producers, with the former also serving as head writer. Denis Villeneuve, who wrote and directed Dune: Part One is also set to executive produce.

Dune: Part One, the third adaptation of author Frank Herbert's sci-fi fantasy series, racked up over $400 million worldwide in box-office sales – despite being able to simultaneously stream on HBO Max. Along with overall positive reception from critics, Part One earned nine Oscar nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Picture.

Dune: The Sisterhood does not yet have a release date, though we can expect to see Dune: Part Two on November 17, 2023. For more, check out our list of the best new TV shows coming your way in 2022 and beyond, or check out our list of the best TV shows of all time.

Lauren Milici
Senior Writer, Tv & Film

Lauren Milici is a Senior Entertainment Writer for GamesRadar+ currently based in the Midwest. She previously reported on breaking news for The Independent's Indy100 and created TV and film listicles for Ranker. Her work has been published in Fandom, Nerdist, Paste Magazine, Vulture, PopSugar, Fangoria, and more.

Read more
Emily Watson as Valya Harkonnen in Dune: Prophecy
How many episodes are in Dune: Prophecy on Max and NOW?
Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya in Dune: Part Two
Dune 3: Everything we know so far about Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Messiah
Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides in one of the best sci-fi movies of all time, Dune Part 2.
Dune 3 will reportedly start filming this summer, a year earlier than expected
Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya in Dune: Part Two
Dune 3 is now in pre-production as Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi sequel prepares to start filming this summer
The Handmaid's Tale
6 years after it was announced, The Handmaid’s Tale sequel has found its lead in Presumed Innocent star
Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides in one of the best sci-fi movies of all time, Dune Part 2.
Denis Villeneuve is making Dune 3 next instead of another planned project because he felt the "appetite" from fans and "a responsibility to finish the story"
Latest in Drama Shows
Adolescence
After it landed 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, Hideo Kojima has also given his verdict on everyone's new Netflix obsession Adolescence
Pacific Rim
The 35 greatest 2010s sci-fi movies
The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2
First trailer for The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2 sees Maggie fight a bear, Hershel plot revenge, and Negan give Lucille a terrifying upgrade
Hughie in The Boys season 1
Rapture's number one fan Jack Quaid is back with a perfect idea for a BioShock TV show
Adolescence
Viewers are raving about Stephen Graham's hard-hitting new Netflix crime drama with a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score: "Some of the best TV I've ever seen"
Adolescence
Peaky Blinders star Stephen Graham's new Netflix one-shot crime drama is out now, and it has a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score
Latest in News
Dune Awakening
Dune Awakening launches for $50 without a stay in early access, and while the survival MMO "will not have a monthly subscription" it will have "optional" paid DLC
Linda Cardellini as Laura Barton in Hawkeye
Linda Cardellini cast as Jason's mom, the original Friday the 13th killer, for Crystal Lake prequel series
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 studio CD Projekt Red won't make survival games just because they're popular, but Netflix's Edgerunners anime is fueling dreams bigger than RPGs
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot showing female protagonist Naoe
Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe actor was terrified to perform until her first mocap scene earned "a standing ovation" on set: "Maybe I can do this mocap thing"
Daredevil: Born Again
Marvel may have just sneakily confirmed one of the biggest Daredevil: Born Again fan theories
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Yasuke actor says that Naoe could beat his samurai in a fight: “Especially with that big a** helmet of mine”