According to Deadline, filmmaker Anna Foerster has been tapped as the new director for Max’s upcoming prequel series Dune: The Sisterhood. This follows Chernobyl’s Johan Renck’s exit last March. Foerster — who has directed episodes of Outlander and Westworld — expected to helm multiple episodes.
In addition, Max has also welcomed the addition of The Crown‘s Olivia Williams and The Witcher star Jodhi May to the ensemble cast of Dune: The Sisterhood. Williams will replace Shirley Henderson for the leading role of Tula Harkonnen, while May is taking over the role of Natalya, who was initially set to be played by Game of Thrones’ Indira Varma.
The outlet’s sources note that Varma left the high-profile project due to scheduling conflicts.
Who’s Involved in Dune: The Sisterhood?
Set 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, Dune: The Sisterhood will follow the Harkonnen Sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind and establish the fabled sect known as the Bene Gesserit. The series will also star Emily Watson, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Faoileann Cunningham, Aoife Hinds, Chloe Lea, Travis Fimmel, Mark Strong, Jade Anouka, Chris Mason, Josh Heuston and Edward Davis.
The project hails from Legendary Television. Diane Ademu-John previously served as co-showrunner with Alison Schapker before stepping down from the role last month. Executive producers are Ademu-John, Schapker, Denis Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts, Scott Z. Burns, Matthew King, John Cameron, and Cait Collins, along with Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, and Kim Herbert on behalf of the Frank Herbert estate.
Set in the universe of Frank Herbert’s epic Dune novel, the series is told through the eyes of a mysterious order of women known as the Bene Gesserit. Armed with extraordinary abilities, this group of women weaves through the feudal politics of Dune, pursuing their own plans that ultimately lead them to the enigmatic planet Arrakis.