It was revealed on Tuesday that Indian actress Tabu, who predominantly appears in Hindi movies in Bollywood, has landed a role in Dune: Prophecy, a spin-off TV series based off of the characters that appeared in the Timothee Chalamet lead Hollywood movie Dune (2021), and its sequel Dune: Part Two (2024).
Dune: Prophecy series takes place approximately 10,000 years before the events of Dune (2021) and hence comes as a prequel to the first movie. Tabu plays the character of Sister Francesca in it, who has been described as 'strong, intelligent, and alluring'.
The Dune franchise is an adaptation of the 1965 science fiction novel written by Frank Herbert. The books describe Tabu's character stating, "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 is an actress who enjoys as much popularity with the Tamil, Telugu audience in India as with the Hindi cine audience. Indian Twitter was thus excited over the announcement would be an understatement. Some of the reactions seen online in the form of X posts:
we will be seatedpic.twitter.com/uNxE44TiLC https://t.co/zTl9zuuhVX
— ` (@harrisxs_) May 13, 2024
Tabu’s audition for her role as one of the Bene Gesserit in Dune: Prophecy. #SisterFrancesca #DuneProphecy #Meenaxi #India https://t.co/BZmbwcXpOV pic.twitter.com/aQjXOtSSTV
— Strider (@StriderEl) May 14, 2024
The original #TabuinDune #Dune @arrahman https://t.co/IZ4RRajegC pic.twitter.com/IML9Jt4HIK
— Sureshkumar P. Sekar (@ursmusically) May 13, 2024
Should have been called Andhadune! *excited* https://t.co/oKkymMXgn9
— Sayantan Ghosh (@sayantansunnyg) May 13, 2024
Bombay dust storm was a promotional event actually https://t.co/Y4dJoBJ2DL
— depression barbie ᡣ𐭩🍉 (@filmi_shilmi) May 13, 2024
The Bombay Dust in Question
The whole world gets RGB skies with northern lights.
— Joe (@josephradhik) May 13, 2024
Meanwhile, Mumbai at 4pm:
(This is a color image). pic.twitter.com/11d3ntoLaQ
tabu to the shai hulud — https://t.co/NIidGfwMsl pic.twitter.com/Fgbv0fl5LJ
— the deeps state (@deepduh) May 13, 2024
The way @sahirfanboi manifested Tabu in the Dune universe!! Iconic if you ask me! https://t.co/L4li8oVaM9
— alexis something rose (@silamsiva) May 14, 2024
he will also be there. Who else would discover that Arrakis is full of kesar that needs to be harvested
— conjugal hansraj (@clayyytonbigsby) May 14, 2024
Because Tabu landed the role in Dune: Messiah.
— Mr. Blue (Tick) (@shiveshranjan7) May 14, 2024
Holy shit Tabu...
— IkariMonogatari 🦋 (@KoWaretaRingo) May 14, 2024
I LOVE her acting but goddamn i seriously don't want to support any further milking of Dune for anything more than the Trilogy https://t.co/M40lQJvjat
Hope these Reverend Mothers are Dune well🥰 pic.twitter.com/vidTLlX6fX
— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) May 14, 2024
Asked AI to give us a sneak peak 👀 https://t.co/cCsYvaPPb7 pic.twitter.com/cPDpDzo4az
— AJIO (@AJIOLife) May 14, 2024
Dune: Prophecy focusses on the origins of the 'Bene Gesserit', an exclusive and powerful sisterhood who undergo intense physical training and mental conditioning to obtain superhuman abilities. The show will follow two Harkonnen sisters named Valya (Emily Watson) and Tula (Olivia Williams), as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled sect known as the Bene Gesserit.