Summary

• The Butlerian Jihad is more intriguing than the Bene Gesserit origin story due to its impact on the entire Dune universe.
• A potential prequel focusing on the Butlerian Jihad could shed light on key aspects of Dune's world, connecting all its elements.
• While Dune: Prophecy explores the Bene Gesserit, the Butlerian Jihad's influence on society and technology offers a more captivating narrative.

prequel show, starring Emily Watson and Mark Strong, explores the origins of the Bene Gesserit sect – one of Dune's most enigmatic, powerful, and important forces. Considering how central the Bene Gesserit are to Dune, seeing their origins unearthed is potentially fascinating. However, as potent as this narrative potentially is, another storyline from Dune history would make for an even more revelatory prequel.

Part of the power of Dune comes from the richness of its universe. Thanks to Frank Herbert's writing, it's clear that Paul Atreides' story is just one chapter in a huge cosmic history that has been unfolding for millennia. Dune: Prophecy, with its exploration of the Bene Gesserit's foundation, is another installment with major implications for the franchise. But while Dune: Prophecy deals with a particular aspect of Dune lore, another untold episode strikes at the heart of why the world of Paul Atreides is as strange and mystical as it is. That story is the so-called Butlerian Jihad.

Dune's Butlerian Jihad Is More Interesting Than The Bene Gesserit

It's The Essence Of The Dune Universe

There are loads of bizarre and idiosyncratic aspects of Dune's lore – including the Bene Gesserit and their seemingly magical powers. And yet, while the cult constitutes a fascinating presence that deserves to have its story told, they are not as influential on the broader Dune narrative as the Butlerian Jihad.

Whereas Dune: Prophecy takes place 10,000 years before Paul Atreides' birth, the Butlerian Jihad delves even further back in history on the Dune timeline. The story begins approximately 1000 years before Dune: Prophecy, with the birth of a powerful and sinister form of AI – a machine known as Omnius. Over time, Omnius conquered multiple planets and subjugated humans to its will, spawning an entire race of subordinate computer machines. After centuries of enslavement, humanity eventually rose up, fighting their oppressors in a war known as the "Great Conflict" – or, Butlerian Jihad.

It was only in the aftermath of the Butlerian Jihad, approximately in the year 88 B.G (Before Guild), that the Bene Gesserit were created. While it's possible that the conflict will be mentioned in Dune: Prophecy, the war between man and machine is central to everything that Dune: Prophecy's story will discuss. With such profound implications for the whole of humanity, a prequel starting with the Butlerian Jihad would arguably be even more intriguing than Dune: Prophecy's Bene Gesserit focus.

A Butlerian Jihad Prequel Would Reveal More About Dune's World

It Connects To Everything

While Dune: Prophecy can explore the origins of Paul Atreides' story, as well as features such as the Bene Gesserit's mysterious "voice" power, a Butlerian Jihad prequel would explore all aspects of Dune's world. For example, the war between humanity and machines explains why there are no computers in Dune, with society instead revolving around mentats. This is perhaps the key detail that separates Dune from many other sci-fi epics, and is a strange feature for anyone unfamiliar with wider franchise lore.

In essence, everything in Dune's story can, to some extent, be traced back to this hitherto unexplored chapter.

The Butlerian Jihad also explains other important features of Dune's environment. For instance, Reverend Mother Gaius Mohiam's test of Paul with the Gom Jabbar and her subsequent acknowledgment of his humanity is actually a legacy of the Butlerian Jihad. The aftermath of the Butlerian Jihad is also central to the organization of human society, with the fallout leading directly to the establishment of the Spacing Guild, and then to the Golden Lion throne and the great houses themselves. In essence, everything in Dune's story can, to some extent, be traced back to this hitherto unexplored chapter.

Dune Has Already Done A Great Job With Bene Gesserit Lore

They Are Not As Mysterious As Other Aspects Of The Story

There's no doubt that Dune: Prophecy can greatly enhance Dune's story. It may even feature aspects of the Butlerian Jihad, since canonically, the foundation of the Bene Gesserit occurs not long after the conflict. However, while the Butlerian Jihad has never been portrayed on film and was hardly acknowledged at all in Villeneuve's movies, the Bene Gesserit has already been given a much more fulsome explanation.

Over the course of Villeneuve's two movies, the Bene Gesserit's breeding program, their unique skills, and their exalted (and reviled) position in society have all been explored. Their seductive nature means that any series promising to shine more light on the cult can be compelling, but the fact is that there are many more areas of Dune's universe that warrant more detailed exposition. Almost nothing about Dune is straightforward. Yet, ahead of Dune: Prophecy, the Bene Gesserit are arguably among the most well-explained aspects of the story.