Director and Star of ‘Dune: The Sisterhood’ Leave HBO Max Series Due to ‘Creative Changes’

“The Sisterhood,” HBO Max’s “Dune” prequel spinoff, is undergoing significant adjustments. Variety has verified that both director Johan Renck and star Shirley Henderson have left the HBO Max series.

 

The announcement comes as the show is on a “pre-scheduled pause,” according to the streamer.

 

“Some creative modifications are being made to the production in order to create the best series possible while remaining loyal to the source material,” stated an HBO Max spokesman in a statement. “Johan Renck has concluded his work on the series and a new director will be called on; with mutual agreement, Johan is going on to pursue other projects. Shirley Henderson will also leave the series and will no longer play Tula Harkonnen.”

 

These aren’t the first departures from the cast. In November of last year, series creator Diane Ademu-John severed ways with “The Sisterhood” as co-showrunner. She has, however, remained on board as an executive producer. Alison Schapker has taken over as the series’ sole showrunner.

 

“Dune: The Sisterhood,” based on the novel “Sisterhood of Dune” by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, is set roughly 10,000 years before the events of “Dune.” Emily Watson, Indira Varma, Travis Fimmel, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Faoileann Cunningham, Aoife Hinds, and Chloe Lea are among the cast members.

 

“Dune: The Sisterhood” is set to premiere in November 2023. Denis Villeneuve’s film version of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel “Dune: Part Two” will be released on November 3.