On its surface, the Dune universe is run by men. The Dune movies are about the chosen one, Paul Atreides, and his ascension to power among men. And, yes, the Imperium is ruled by an emperor who oversees the Great Houses (also led by men).

The biggest problem is the problem that plagues seemingly all prequels: the fact that no matter how far back in the past the story might go, imaginations can only stretch so far. Once again there is a conflict between the Harkonnen and the Atreides families (the novelty here being the Harkonnens get more screentime),

A long-gestating prequel, about the women who seek to guide a galaxy, is splashy, somber and insufficiently spicy.

Showrunner Alison Schapker discusses her journey in creating the new HBO "Dune" series, how television is becoming more cinematic and her special message for loyal fans.

Dune: Prophecy is a much riskier bet than its studio seems to realize — one that could very well fail to pay off.