- "Dune: Prophecy" is the prequel TV series to Denis Villeneuve's "Dune" movies.
- It also touches on a key event in the "Dune" universe: the Butlerian Jihad.
- Here's what to know about the "Dune" timeline.
"Dune: Prophecy" is HBO's prequel TV series to the critically acclaimed "Dune" movies directed by Denis Villeneuve.
However, it's completely separate from the films, so don't expect to see Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) or Chani (Zendaya) pop up for a cameo.
It mainly follows Valya Harkonnen (Emily Watson) and her sister, Tula Harkonnen (Olivia Williams) as they work to establish the Sisterhood as an influential group that would eventually become the sect called the Bene Gesserit by Paul Atreides' time.
"Dune: Prophecy" is Warner Bros.' latest move to expand the "Dune" franchise, which has already grossed over $1 billion at the global box office. An upcoming video game, "Dune: Awakening," is also in the works.
Fans might wonder how "Dune: Prophecy" fits into the timeline. Here's what we know.
'Dune: Prophecy' takes place 10,000 years before the birth of Paul Atreides
Timothee Chalamet in "Dune: Part 2."
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
At the start of the first episode, a line of text clarifies that the series takes place over 10,000 years before the birth of Paul Atreides.
This establishes that the show is so far away from the films that the writers have the space to tell huge, long-running stories without worrying about impacting the events of the films and crossing over into the timeline of Timothee Chalamet's reign on the desert planet, Arrakis.
The TV series is based on the events of the "Great Schools of Dune" trilogy of books, written by Frank Herbert's son, Brian Herbert, and Kevin J. Anderson.
It's not a direct adaptation of the trilogy, but it pulls characters and storylines from the three books, which were published between 2012 and 2016.
The show also notes that it takes place "116 years after the end of the great machine wars." Fans will know that this refers to an event that shaped the "Dune" universe in a very specific way. Here's what to know about the "Butlerian Jihad."
What is the Butlerian Jihad? 'Dune: Prophecy' explains the revolution against 'thinking machines'
"Dune: Part 2."
Warner Bros.
The series' opening includes a brief look at the forces of humanity fighting against massive machines, giving fans the first depiction of the Butlerian Jihad in live action.
The Butlerian Jihad was the revolution against robots and artificial intelligence, which the "Dune" universe refers to as "thinking machines."
In the books, this happened because Omnius, the robotic ruler of the Synchronized Empire, had overthrown several planets in the universe, and there were fears that the machines would wipe out humanity completely.
The war lasted almost 100 years and was won when Omnius was defeated at the Battle of Corrin.
That's why there are no robots in the "Dune" franchise. Although there is still plenty of advanced technology present, none of it is controlled by free-thinking AI.