• “Dune: Prophecy” is the prequel television series to Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” films.

• It also addresses a key event in the “Dune” universe: the Butlerian Jihad.

• Here’s what you need to know about the “Dune” timeline.

“Dune: Prophecy” is HBO’s prequel television series to the critically acclaimed series. “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) appear for an appearance.

It primarily 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 during the time of Paul Atreides.

‘Dune: Prophecy’ is Warner Bros.’ latest move to expand the “Dune” franchise, which has already grossed more than $1 billion at the global box office. An upcoming video game, “Dune: Awakening”, is also in preparation.

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

At the start of the first episode, a line of text specifies that the series takes place more than 10,000 years before the birth of Paul Atreides.

This establishes that the series is so far removed 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 the timeline of Timothée Chalamet’s reign on the planet desert. Arrakis.

The television series is based on the events of the “Great Schools of Dune” book trilogy, written by Frank Herbert’s son Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.

It is not a direct adaptation of the trilogy, but it takes up the characters and plots of the three books published between 2012 and 2016.

The show also notes that the event takes place “116 years after the end of the Great Machine Wars.” Fans will know that this is an event that shaped the “Dune” universe in a very specific way. Here’s what you need to know about “Butler Jihad.”

What is Butlerian Jihad? “Dune: Prophecy” explains the revolution against “thinking machines”

The series opener includes a brief look at the forces of humanity battling against massive machines, giving fans the first depiction of Butlerian Jihad in live action.

The Butlerian Jihad was the revolution against robots and artificial intelligence, which the “Dune” universe calls “thinking machines.”

In the books, this happened because Omnius, the robotic ruler of the Synchronized Empire, had overthrown several planets in the universe, and it was feared that the machines would completely wipe out humanity.

The war lasted almost 100 years and was won when Omnius was defeated at Battle of Corrin.

This is why there are no robots in the “Dune” franchise. Although there are still many advanced technologies, none of them are controlled by free-thinking AI.

“Dune: Prophecy” airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and is streaming on Max..

Read the original article on Business Insider