WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for the Dune: Prophecy season 1 finale.
Following the death of Emperor Javicco Corrino in theDune: Prophecyseason 1 finale, a new Emperor will likely rise to power in the upcoming season 2.Dune: Prophecyis a six-part series based on the 2012 novelSisterhood of Dune, which was written by originalDuneauthor Frank Herbert’s son, Brian, and Kevin J. Anderson. The story takes place more than10,000 years before the rise of Paul Atreidies, which is chronicled in Denis Villenueve’sDune(2020) andDune: Part Two(2024).Dune: Prophecyreveals theorigins of the powerful shadow sisterhood known as the Bene Gesseritand how they manipulated the fate of humankind.
Dune: Prophecyepisode 1 “The Hidden Hand"introduced Valya Harkonnen, a fierce and calculated leader, and her biological sister, Tula Harkonnen.Dune: Prophecyepisode 2 revealswhat happened to Lila and her grandmother, Reverend Mother Dorotea, after Tula and Valya encouraged her to endure The Agony. InDune: Prophecyepisode 3, Tula takes Lila’s life into her own hands aftershe apparently died during The Agony ritualand tries to resurrect her through the use of forbidden technology. Episode 4 reveals thatLila was resurrected through the Thinking Machine, Anirul. Episode 5 showcases Desmond Hart’s rise to power, while episode 6 sees Tula reconnect with herabandoned half-Atreides child, Desmond Hart.
Javicco ended his own reign once he discovered his powerlessness
Image via Max
One of the biggest surprise twists in theDune: Prophecyseason 1ending is that Emperor Javicco Corrino turned his own blade against himself, which resulted in his death. He discovers that Valya Harkonnen and the Sisterhood have orchestrated his entire life and rise to power, realizing thathe has never known “a true moment of freedom”. This disturbing revelation forces Javicco to confront his own powerlessness within his apparent domain, which fiercely breaks his sense of control and his royal self-image. This, combined with the revelation that Sister Francesca was sent to kill him, compels Javicco to inspire his own death.
Javicco may not have taken his own life in theDune: Prophecyseason 1 finale had he not discovered thatFrancesca had imprinted on him, meaning that he could never hurt her. Because he can no longer trust Francesca and the Sisterhood, he realizes in that moment just how truly powerless he is in all of this and how his throne is nothing but an inflated title. He was only Emperor because Valya and the Sisterhood wanted him to be, which is no longer the case. Francesca comes clean and reveals that Valya planned to have her kill Javicco but that’s not enough to convince Javicco that he can do anything to protect himself in the long run.
Ynez Is Technically The Heir To The Throne
She fled to Arrakis with Kerian and Valya
Princess Ynez was the heir to the Emperor’s throne and was Valya’s handpicked selection to take over for Javicco when the time came. However, Empress Natalya still clings to the throne even after Javicco’s death, especially after she killed Francesca, which must have also been one of the viable options that Valya had foreseen. With Javicco and Francesca dead at the end ofDune: Prophecyseason 1, Empress Natalya maintains her power over the Imperium. Based on her newfound alliance withDesmond Hart, it’s quite possible that he will become the new Emperor, which would cause massive problems for the Sisterhood.
Based on what happened to Princess Ynez in theDune: Prophecyseason 1 finale, it’s unlikely that Empress Natalya would welcome her back into her position of power. Natalya had Ynez arrested after she tried to free Keiran Atredies. Season 1 ends with Kerian, Ynez, and Valya arriving at the Dune planetArrakis, where Constantine is supposedly on his way to oversee spice production. This was put into play by Valya and Francesca in Dune: Prophecy season 5. Constantine exposed Keiran as a rebel insurgent in the first place, which likely means that he and Ynez will be on opposite sides of the conflict inDune: Prophecyseason 2.
How Long House Corrino Holds The Emperor Role In Dune Lore
Dune: Prophecy marks the beginning of House Corrino’s 10,000-year reign
According toDunelore,Dune: Prophecymarked the relative beginning of House Corrino’s 10,000-year rule over the Imperium. This strongly suggests that House Corrino will maintain its ruler throughoutDune: Prophecyseason 2 and that either Constantine or Ynez will eventually come to power, depending on what happens to Natalya. The real key in determining all this will be which route Desmond Hart chooses to take in the next season ofDune: Prophecynow that he has reconnected with his mother, Tula, in a way. While Tula remains in Imperial custody, Desmond may come to have a change of heart even if he does become Emperor in season 2.
Dune: Prophecy
Cast
Set in the universe of Frank Herbert’s Dune series, Dune: Prophecy, a sci-fi epic, follows the political and spiritual struggles on the desert planet of Arrakis. As factions vie for control of the prized spice melange, a prophesied hero emerges, challenging the balance of power and the fate of the galaxy.
