Dune Prequel Series Will Reportedly Continue Production Amid the Strikes

Dune: The Sisterhood will apparently continue production despite the ongoing writers’ strike and the actors strike that was announced by SAF-AFTRA on July 13.

According to Deadline, the upcoming Dune prequel series will forge ahead with production in Budapest despite the start of the SAG-AFTRA strike.

HBO is able to continue production on the show since the cast is largely made up of British actors, who are members of Equity rather than SAG-AFTRA and won’t be striking alongside their American peers. Although there are some SAG-AFTRA actors involved in Dune: The Sisterhood, the production is able to continue without them, with Equity members able to return to the set.

Equity members are legally unable to strike in solidarity, but the union instead promised to support SAG-AFTRA and its members “by all lawful means”, though it also warned that its members have no legal protection from being fired for refusing to cross a picket line.

This loophole will likely be used by studios across the globe to continue production where possible, and we’re already seeing HBO use this to their advantage, with House of the Dragon also continuing filming in the UK for the same reason.

The SAG-AFTRA strike means members cannot work on any productions but also means they can’t attend premieres, do interviews, award shows, or otherwise promote their work. “We are being victimized by a very greedy enterprise,” said SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher. “At some point you have to say, ‘No, we’re not going to take this anymore.'”

Similar to the ongoing Writer Guild of America strike, the union is seeking higher wages, improved residual payments, and protections against the use of artificial intelligence.

The upcoming Dune prequel show underwent “creative changes” back in March while also losing its director along with one of its stars.

IGN’s Dune review gave it 7/10 and said: “Denis Villeneuve’s Dune is beautiful to behold, a faithful adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel… This is a technically brilliant, visually amazing movie with a top-notch cast and deep sci-fi concepts. A shame, then, that it feels like a drag in its back half.”

Want to read more about Dune? Check out the new characters heading to Dune: Part Two as well as who has been cast as The Emperor in the prequel TV series.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.