HBO Max's in-development Dune: The Sisterhood finds a new showrunner in Diane Ademu-John. Though Frank Herbert's sci-fi novel Dune remains one of the most iconic in the genre, adapting it in any form has proved to be difficult. Following attempts from David Lynch and Alejandro Jodorowsky, Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villeneuve tries his hand at bringing the world of Dune to life with a new movie slated for release this fall. The film is expected to shepherd in a new universe for film and television, with a second movie adapting the back half of Herbert's novel already in the works.
Beyond the Dune movies, WarnerMedia began looking to expand the franchise's scope well before even the first trailer had arrived. Prequel series Dune: The Sisterhood was ordered straight to series in June 2019, with an eye on it becoming an HBO Max exclusive. The series, which counts Villeneuve as an executive producer and the pilot's director, will focus on the Bene Gesserit, a mysterious order of women with extraordinary abilities. Few updates emerged beyond that, though in late 2019, initial showrunner Jon Spaihts exited Dune: The Sisterhood to better focus on writing the script to the second Dune movie.
Now the series has found another showrunner. According to Variety, Diane Ademu-John has joined Dune: The Sisterhood as writer, showrunner, and executive producer. Her previous credits include Empire, The Originals, and The Vampire Diaries. Most recently, Ademu-John served as an executive producer and writer for Netflix's The Haunting of Bly Manor. There was no mention of if Spaihts' original co-showrunner Dana Calvo is still attached to Dune: The Sisterhood.
Since the series is connected to Dune the movie, it is likely that its development was affected by the movie's delay. Dune was once scheduled to premiere late last year, but the coronavirus pandemic moved it to October 2021. How audiences respond to the movie will impact the show's chances, so it stands to reason that no major progress would be made on Dune: The Sisterhood until after the movie premieres. At the same time, Spaihts' exit must've also had an impact on the show's development.
Luckily, with Ademu-John on board, Dune: The Sisterhood can continue onward. Ademu-John's experience on genre shows like The Haunting of Bly Manor and The Originals will serve her well when approaching the prequel series, though the show itself might also pose a unique challenge when it comes to its expansive world. Still, it'll be quite exciting to see how Dune: The Sisterhood proceeds under Ademu-John's care. With the movie just months away, expect more updates about the series to emerge soon.
Source: Variety
