Like a giant sandworm beneath the deserts of Arrakis, the Dune franchise slithers onward, ready to consume all of the streaming numbers in its wake. In other words, we've finally received the first teaser trailer for Dune: Prophecy, the TV spinoff based on Denis Villeneuve’s interpretation of Frank Herbert’s legendary sci-fi novel series (sans Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet).

The six-episode series has been in the works at Max since 2019, when it was commissioned under the title Dune: Sisterhood. It’s inspired by the 2012 novel Sisterhood of Dune, by Brian Herbert (Frank’s son) and Kevin J Anderson, and takes place some 10,000 years before the birth of Part One and Part Two protagonist Paul Atreides.

According to an official synopsis, Prophecy follows two Harkonnen sisters “as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit”. They’re the ones who made Paul put his hand in a nasty box that one time, and seek to control the fate of humanity through a secretive selective breeding programme. 

If you’re not a fan of Dune and none of that makes an ounce of sense, and you still for some reason want to watch the show, just think Game of Thrones but in space. In the trailer alone we’re treated to “great houses”, “networks of influence”, and aristocratic power plays as the Bene Gesserit begin to wield their influence throughout a feudal civilisation reeling from a war with thinking machines.

Set to air this autumn, Dune: Prophecy stars Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Mark Strong, Travis Fimmel, Johdi May, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Josh Heuston, Chloe Lea, Jade Anouka, Faoileann Cunningham, Edward Davis, Aoife Hinds, Chris Mason, and Shalom Brune-Franklin. Brian Herbert is also on board as an executive producer.

Watch the new trailer above.