A few months after the great success of Dune 2 in the cinema, the universe of Arrakis returns to the small screen with the series Dune : Prophecy.
Even if the first part had suffered the full brunt of the Covid-19 pandemic (grossing only $408 million worldwide for a budget of $165 million), Dune 2 raised the bar by raking in nearly 715 million dollars (for a budget of 190 million). A real success for Warner who confirmed the launch of Dune 3still with Denis Villeneuve at the helm, and who also hopes to attract crowds on the small screen with Dune : Prophecy.
The Max series takes place approximately 10,000 years before the events linked to Paul Atreides and recounts the beginnings of the Bene Gesserit order, based in particular on the book The Community of Sisters by Brian Herbert (son of Frank, having taken over the literary saga after the death of his father) and Kevin J. Anderson. Showrun by Alison Schapker, Dune : Prophecy has had a chaotic production, but is finally hitting the screens. The first opinions are therefore in. Press review.
DUNE: the prophecy continues
“Over the course of these first four episodes, Dune: Prophecy establishes itself as an exciting and spectacle-rich series, driven by dramatic developments and intriguing secrets, but also by a deep distrust of power, of those who exercise it and belief systems in which religious devotion and political manipulation begin to blur. » TV Guide
“The series contains all the complex plots and gossip-worthy soap operas one would expect from a story about the Atreides or Harkonnen clans – or the Targaryens and the Lannisters. There may not be any original ideas in this spice-soaked Dune product, but it's a damn good piece of entertainment. » San Francisco Chronicle
“Sure, the writing can seem clumsy at times and there isn't enough room for all of its characters, but the series succeeds in drawing us into a distant world of false saviors and almost insurmountable systems of power. It's complicated, it's weird, and it's all very Dune. » Paste Magazine
“It’s a mixed start for this first Dune spin-off, which cannot completely escape the shadow of Denis Villeneuve. But patience could be rewarded. After all, the results of the Bene Gesserit plans are measured in centuries. » Empire
“Dune: Prophecy has many elements to introduce, and yet the series is already very slow to build, even dismal at times. However, I found myself becoming more and more invested as it went along. Maybe by the end of the first season I'll be hooked. For now, however, the whole thing could do with a bit more spice. » The Hollywood Reporter
“Only four episodes of Prophecy were available at the time of writing this review [sur six pour toute la saison, ndlr]so it remains unclear whether the series will be able to hold up and deliver a rewarding conclusion to its many mysteries. But no matter who makes it out alive, one thing is certain: Prophecy is a solid foray into the far reaches of the Dune universe. Long may the Bene Gesserit reign. » Entertainment Weekly
“Dune: Prophecy easily ranks among the most disappointing examples of franchise expansions disguised as prestige TV series. » SlashFilm
“Dune: Prophecy is too attached to its expansive potential and too trusting in its audience's adoration of the universe to really succeed in being as strange and spectacular as it should be. » IndieWire
“Most of the character-driven storylines are exciting, and Jessica Barden, Emily Watson, Emma Canning and Olivia Williams are superb as ancestors of House Harkonnen. But with its lack of coherence and perspective, the prequel series never quite lives up to the qualities set by the books and films that came before it. » IGN
As the critics clearly point out, the press only had access to the first four episodes of season 1 of Dune : Prophecy (which will therefore contain six) and it is therefore premature to draw definitive conclusions from these first opinions. However, with its average of 65/100 on Metacritic, it seems rather logical to say that the series is, a priori, not quite up to expectations compared to the two films by Denis Villeneuve (posting 74/100 average for Dune and 79/100 for Dune 2 sur Metacritic).
To be sure, you won't have to wait very long since Dune : Prophecy will be broadcast from November 18 on Max in France.
