Dune: Prophecy is the first spinoff in the ongoing cinematic Dune universe, which began with Denis Villeneuve’s award-winning adaptation in 2021. The show takes place 10,000 years before the birth of those movies’ protagonist, Paul Atreides, instead following the mysterious order of physically-powered women known as the Bene Gesserit. Dune: Prophecy has many characters who are related to Dune movie characters, but otherwise it’s a completely separate story that thrives on its own merits with an engaging story of politics, betrayal, and bloodshed.
One of the major families in Dune: Prophecy is House Richese, a powerful noble house whom the Bene Gesserit have arranged to marry into the Imperium through House Corrino’s eldest daughter, Princess Ynez. This alliance is supposed to further the sisterhood’s plans to place a member of the Bene Gesserit on the throne someday, but things quickly take a turn in the show’s first episode and their schemes are foiled. House Richese is closely linked to the importance of spice in Dune, but for some reason, their name doesn’t appear in either of Villeneuve’s movies.
House Richese Is One Of The Biggest Suppliers Of Technology In Dune
The Noble House Was In Charge Of Producing Thinking Machines
At the time of Dune: Prophecy, House Richese is known throughout the universe as one of the most illustrious suppliers of technology and “thinking machines”. This makes them a very controversial family, as technology is severely looked down upon at this point in Dune’s history due to a recent war between humanity and machines. The decision to have House Richese marry into the Imperium is understandable a polarizing one for many, including the ruling House Corrino, but Dune: Prophecy proves that the Bene Gesserit only have their own interests in mind.
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At the time of Frank Herbert’s Dune, House Richese still exists – though it has lost its monopoly on the production and distribution of machines. The family is said to be in competition with the rival House Vernius, who are generally believed to be richer and more advanced in their production than House Richese. This rivalry is never mentioned in Villeneuve’s movies, though it could be set up in Dune: Messiah and explored later.
House Richese’s History Is More Detailed In Non-Frank Herbert Dune Books
The Original Author Didn’t Pay Much Attention To This Noble Family
Although Frank Herbert never went into any detail on House Richese’s history in any of his Dune books, there’s still some information out there to give some extra context on this polarizing family. For example, The Dune Encyclopedia (written by a team of 43 different writers) describes House Richese as “deserted” following the Butlerian Jihad in which humanity finally won their war against the machines, suggesting that their home planet was resettled by House Vernius’ colonists from the planet Ix.
Set in the universe of Frank Herbert’s Dune series, this 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.
- Cast
- Emily Watson , Olivia Williams , Jodhi May , Travis Fimmel , Mark Strong , Jade Anouka , Chris Mason , Sarah-Sofie Boussnina , Shalom Brune-Franklin , Faoileann Cunningham , Aoife Hinds , Chloe Lea , Josh Heuston , Edward Davis , Tabu , Yerin Ha
- Release Date
- November 17, 2024
- Seasons
- 1
- Writers
- Diane Ademu-John , Kevin J. Anderson , Brian Herbert , Frank Herbert
- Directors
- Anna Foerster
- Showrunner
- Alison Schapker
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
- Creator(s)
- Diane Ademu-John , Alison Schapker
