Dune: Prophecymay not have been the thrilling spinoff that many fans were hoping for, but the show did a great job of expanding this on-screen universe by introducing many new aspects from Frank Herbert’s books that weren’t used in the films. Most notably, the show offered plenty of backstory on humanity’s war with the Thinking Machines, which is an integral part ofDune’s lore that Villeneuve’s movies understandably didn’t go into detail about.Dune: Prophecy’s Emperor narrative was ultimately too familiarto leave much of an impression, but the worldbuilding was excellent.
It’s unclear exactly how much ofDune: Prophecywill prove to be important in the upcoming movies, but the show could end up being a valuable resource for exploring aspects of Herbert’s novels that haven’t been needed in Villeneuve’s films yet. The first season has already proved this, going into detail on pieces of lore such as theBene Gesserit’s foundationand the war against the Thinking Machines.This information enhances theDunemoviesby giving audiences a new lens through which to experience this fictional universe.
Dune: Prophecy Teased Introducing Gholas - And Season 2 Should
The Show Needs To Bring This Key Element Into Its Story
Although this aspect of Frank Herbert’s books wasn’t actually mentioned by name inDune: Prophecy, the show made a clear effort to tease gholas through the integration of Thinking Machines in Desmond Hart’s backstory. In the original novels,gholas are artificially created humansthat are grown from the remains of dead bodies and use the subject’s existing memories to create a similar identity in their clone. These creatures were first bred by the Bene Tleilax, who are mentioned briefly inDune: Prophecy.
What Happened To Theo In Dune: Prophecy - Is She Dead?
Dune: Prophecy leaves the fate of Theo, a supposed Face Dancer and loyal member of the Sisterhood, ambiguous in the season 1 finale.
One of the leading theories aboutDesmond Hart’s true identity(before he was confirmed to be the daughter of Tula Harkonnen and Orry Atreides), was that he was some kind of ghola created from the original Desmond’s remains. This didn’t turn out to be true, but the show included plenty of evidence to lead audiences down this false path. These red herrings suggest thatDune: Prophecyis aware of the importance of gholas, perhaps even teasing audiences before introducing them in the following season.
Dune 3 Has To Have One Major Ghola Character, Based On The Book
Duncan Idaho Is Revived As A Ghola
The existence of gholas is crucial in theDuneuniverse, particularly in Herbert’s “Dune Messiah.” This book is the direct sequel to his original novel, and it will serve as the source material forDenis Villeneuve’s upcomingDune: Part 3.The story takes place many years after Paul’s defeat of House Harkonnenat the end ofDune, while his devastating “holy wars” are being raged in all corners of the universe. It follows his life as the Emperor, where he’s forced to balance his relationships with Chani and Irulan while avoiding an intricate plot to have him removed from power.
In “Dune Messiah”, the Bene Tleilax use a ghola of Duncan Idaho to get close to Emperor Paul as part of their assassination plan.
In “Dune Messiah”,the Bene Tleilax use a ghola of Duncan Idahoin order to get close to Emperor Paul as part of their assassination plan. Although things don’t exactly go to plan, Duncan’s ghola plays a huge role in the story and ultimately becomes one of the franchise’s several protagonists in future sequels. This huge plot twist will have to happen inDune: Part 3, so it would have made sense forDune: Prophecyto introduce the concept to audiences in advance. Thankfully, there’s still time, as the second season will likely be released before the upcoming movie.
Why Dune 3 Is Better Positioned To Pull Off Gholas Than Dune: Prophecy
Idaho’s Ghola Is The Perfect Introduction For General Audiences
While the show certainly had its strengths, there were ultimately manythings that went wrong withDune: Prophecy.The most obvious issue with this prequel show was its focus on exposition and neglect of character development, which kept audiences waiting for something interesting to happen and never truly paid off these questions. This places lots of pressure on the show’s second season to pick up the pace and resolve all the threads that were introduced in the first handful of episodes - sothe introduction of gholas may not be high on the show’s list of priorities.
Dune: Prophecy Continues A 25-Year-Old Dune Franchise Curse That Started With The Books
Dune: Prophecy wasn’t as strong as we’d hoped, continuing a 25-year issue with the Dune title that could be a problem for future adaptations.
Instead, it makes for sense for gholas to be introduced in the main series of films, The movies have done a great job of translating Herbert’s bizarre and eccentric sci-fi concepts to the big screen, from the immense sandworms to the deceptively complex landscapes, so it seems feasible that gholas could be made accessible for general audiences too. Villeneuve’s cinematic language has proven brilliant for makingDune’s most complex sci-fi ideas more comprehensible, whereasDune: Prophecystruggled in this regard.
Dune: Prophecy
Cast
Set in the universe of Frank Herbert’s Dune series, Dune: Prophecy, a sci-fi epic, follows the political and spiritual struggles on the desert planet of Arrakis. As factions vie for control of the prized spice melange, a prophesied hero emerges, challenging the balance of power and the fate of the galaxy.
