CNN
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The already expansive ‘Dune’ universe is about to get even bigger.

In Max’s six-part prequel series “Dune: Prophecy,” premiering Sunday, the story will extend far beyond the vast, spice-infused deserts of the planet Arrakis that Timotheé Chalamet’s character Paul Atreides walked through in the recent “Dune ‘ films directed by Denis Villeneuve.

“Prophecy” is set in “completely different settings” and time periods, according to executive producer Alison Schapker, who told CNN in a recent interview that the show expands the “Dune” universe in a way that feels cohesive for both the Frank Herbert -source material and the films that preceded it.

“’Dune’ is a universe that people are attached to,” says Schapker, whose previous credits include leading the charge on shows like “Westworld,” “Lost” and “Alias.” “It exists in a world that matters to people and I think we wanted to respect that.”

Schapker’s team ultimately had “total freedom” when it came to setting up these new interstellar locations, but they worked hard to apply the same aesthetic standards established in the films so that it feels like the show “can exist in the universe that Denis finds so beautiful’. put on the screen.”

“Prophecy” is set 10,000 years before the events depicted in Villeneuve’s films “Dune: Part 1” and “Dune: Part 2” – which are based on Herbert’s famous 1965 novel of the same name – and tells the story of origin story of the Bene Gesserit, a powerful group of women trained to harness special abilities of the mind and body.

Inspired by the “Schools of Dune” book trilogy written by Kevin J. Anderson and Frank Herbert’s son Brian Herbert, “Prophecy” follows sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen, as they battle “forces that threaten the future of humanity and the legendary establish a sect’. which will become known as the Bene Gesserit,” according to an official synopsis.

One of the worlds in the series is Salusa Secundus, which is seen as a prison planet in Villeneuve’s films, but is presented as an imperial planet in ‘Prophecy’.

The series will also feature worlds like Wallach IX, where the sisterhood overseen by Valya (Emily Watson) and Tula (Olivia Williams) has its institutional base, and Lankiveil, an icy and foreboding planet where the Harkonnens were banished during this period in the world. history of the story.

While emphasis was placed on making these worlds feel as “real, raw and epic” as possible visually, it was also important to anchor the expansive story and rich lore within the show’s characters, to make “Dune ”-giving newcomers easy access. in the franchise.

“That was a very conscious kind of tightrope walk that we did,” says Schapker, who claims you can still enjoy the series without having read the books or seen the movies.

That said, “Prophecy” caters more to an adult audience with some of its more intimate scenes. It was a pleasure for Schapker to be able to venture into this area – of course without being unnecessary.

“I loved that we got to go into adult sci-fi,” Schapker said. “It was really fun to have our characters experience three-dimensional humanity, including their sexuality, and for the show to allow people to portray the more spicy moments.”

Spicy, in this case, should not be confused with the much-disputed and coveted substance at the heart of ‘Dune’ lore.

The first episode of “Dune: Prophecy” premieres Sunday on Max. (Max and HBO, like CNN, are units of Warner Bros. Discovery.)