‘Dune: The Sisterhood’ Creator Diane Ademu-John Exits As Co-Showrunner

EXCLUSIVE: As HBO Max‘s Dune: The Sisterhood (wt) moves into production, series creator and writer Diane Ademu-John is stepping down as co-showrunner. She will remain creatively involved in the prequel as executive producer but will focus on other commitments. Veteran TV writer-producer Alison Schapker, who has served as co-showrunner with Ademu-John, will now be the sole showrunner for the series.

Schapker and Ademu-John executive produce with Johan Renck, who is directing the premiere episode. Filming on the series started yesterday in Budapest, Renck announced on Instagram. (You can read his post below.)

Starring Emily Watson, Shirley Henderson and Travis Fimmel, Dune: The Sisterhood (wt), based on Frank Herbert’s classic novel, is set 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides. It follows the Harkonnen Sisters, played by Watson and Henderson, as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled sect known as the Bene Gesserit.

In addition to Watson, Henderson and Fimmel, the cast also includes Indira Varma, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Faoileann Cunningham, Aoife Hinds and Chloe Lea.

Denis Villeneuve, who directed, co-wrote and produced the 2021 Dune film, is executive producing with Jon Spaihts, Scott Z. Burns, Matthew King, John Cameron and Cait Collins, along with author Brian Herbert. Byron Merritt and Kim Herbert serve as executive producers for the Frank Herbert estate. Author Kevin J. Anderson serves as co-producer.

The series is co-produced by HBO Max and Legendary Television, the TV arm of Legendary, which is behind the current film franchise.

Schapker has an extensive genre drama TV resume. She recently was executive producer on Westworld. Before that, she served as executive producer and co-showrunner/showrunner on Netflix’s Altered Carbon and also worked on Fringe, Lost and Almost Human.