Legendary Indian actress Tabu, known for her role in Life of Pi and many other incredible projects, has been cast as Sister Francesca in the Max prequel series, Dune: Prophecy.

Dune stands tall as one of the most monumental franchises to ever exist. Thus a recent thrilling announcement shook the world as Max announced a prequel series, called Dune: Prophecy diving deep into the expansive Dune universe. It promises to shed light on the mysterious lives of the Bene Gesserit. Long before Timothy Chalamet’s Atreides took over this saga.

Timothée Chalamet as Atreides in Villeneuve’s saga.
Adding to the excitement, the latest casting revelation has set hearts racing as the legendary Indian actress Tabu has been chosen for a pivotal recurring role in the series. Bollywood fans couldn’t be more elated right now as they eagerly await to witness her brilliance elevate the epic tale.

Dune: Prophecy Casts Legendary Indian Star, Tabu in Recurring Role!

A recent Variety exclusive revealed that the upcoming Max prequel series, Dune: Prophecy, has secured the esteemed Indian actress Tabu for a recurring role. Originally titled Dune: The Sisterhood when commissioned in 2019, the series draws inspiration from the novel Sisterhood of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.

Transporting viewers 10,000 years before Timothy Chalamet’s Paul Atreides’ rise, Dune: Prophecy digs into the early days of the Bene Gesserit, within Frank Herbert’s universe. Tabu joins the ensemble as Sister Francesca, a character described as a potent mix of strength, intellect, and allure. As the character description reads,

“Strong, intelligent, and alluring, Sister Francesca leaves a lasting impression in her wake. Once a great love of the Emperor, her return to the palace strains the balance of power in the capital.”

Tabu in The Life of Pie
Tabu isn’t just a celebrated Indian celebrity, she’s also left an unforgettable mark on the global cinema with timeless and incredible works like Life of Pi, The Namesake, and the BBC miniseries A Suitable Boy. The news of her joining Dune: Prophecy has indeed sent Bollywood fans into a frenzy, eagerly anticipating the unique flavors she’ll bring to the Dune universe.

What All Is Known About Dune: Prophecy So Far

Dune: Prophecy has a stellar cast in its hands, featuring Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Travis Fimmel, and more. The series since 2019 has seen a lot of ups and downs, however, it seems like things are steading down now. Showrunner Alison Schapker and co-developer Diane Ademu-John, are taking the lead in making sure everything runs smoothly from now on.

Initially helmed by Jon Spaihts, the reins eventually passed to Schapker amidst many creative reshuffles. Amidst all the chaos, director Johan Renck also briefly joined before leaving the team, with Olivia Williams stepping in. Despite setbacks, the series again started filming in Budapest, led by director Anna Foerster.
A still from 2021’s Dune
Fans are now waiting for Dune: Prophecy to unfold, as the show promises a deep dive into the Dune universe. With Jónsi orchestrating the score, excitement builds for the epic saga’s debut. The show is still early in production and doesn’t have any premiere date set so far. The buzz generated by the two Timothy Chalamet Dune films has set the stage for the show, making it a promising addition to the Frank Herbert universe.

The first part of Dune is available to stream on Max.