The fact that it has persisted for 10,000 years highlights its fundamental importance to Frank Herbert's universe.

There’s a whole new generation of Atreides and Harkonnen families introduced in HBO’s prequel series “Dune: Prophecy,” set 10,000 years before the events of Denis Villeneuve’s two “Dune” movies. Since the show is set so far in the past,

Return to a time before sandworms and spice, to a period of galactic exploration and expansion that is nearly unknown in “Dune: Prophecy,” the new series that debuts on Max on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 9 p.m.

"It's tremendously satisfying to be in a universe where women are taken seriously when it comes to power and politics, and driving the story," "Dune: Prophecy" showrunner Alison Schapker tells IW.

Prophecy has dropped its first episode, triggering numerous reactions across social media. While it has received a good response overall, fans have particularly grown curious about the character of Desmond Hart played by Travis Fimmel.

Dune: Prophecy briefly touches upon the Butlerian Jihad, with this past conflict explaining the lack of "robots" in the events of the Dune movies.