After offering a brief glimpse of various characters in the teaser for Dune: Prophecy, the creators have now unveiled the first official look at Tabu in the series. Tabu will portray Sister Francesca, a character central to the story.
Expressing her enthusiasm for the role, Tabu shared, “Playing Sister Francesca in Dune: Prophecy has been an extraordinary experience. From the moment I was approached, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. It’s a joy to be entrusted with such a complex, intriguing, and emotionally powerful character.” She continued, “Diving into her depth has been immersive and exciting. I can’t wait for both Indian and global audiences to experience her story on JioCinema. Although I’ll appear a bit later in the season, the Dune Universe’s rich history and intrigue promise an exciting journey for viewers worldwide.”
In the newly released image, Tabu is seen dressed in black with her hair styled in a ponytail, giving fans a first look at her character’s appearance.
Set 10,000 years before the events depicted in the recent Dune films, Dune: Prophecy is based on the novel Sisterhood of Dune by Brian Herbert (the son of original Dune author Frank Herbert) and Kevin J. Anderson. The series will follow two Harkonnen sisters as they face threats to humanity’s future and lay the groundwork for the Bene Gesserit, a key sect in the Dune universe, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Originally developed as an exclusive for HBO’s streaming service Max, the series will now premiere under the HBO brand, airing on the cable network and streaming on Max as part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s rebranding strategy.
Tabu will share the screen with a stellar cast that includes Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Johdi May, Travis Fimmel, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Mark Strong, Chloe Lea, Josh Heuston, and Jade Anouka. Co-produced by Max and Legendary Television, the same company behind the Dune film franchise, the series’ release date has not yet been announced.
Tabu made her debut in Western cinema with Mira Nair’s The Namesake in 2006, which received critical acclaim. Her second film, Life of Pi (2012), further established her international presence, with the film winning four Oscars, including Best Director for Ang Lee.