Dune: Prophecy occurs 10,000 years before the Dune movies, but the characters still use the same energy shields. Even though it happened long before Dune timeline, Dune: Prophecy it bears a striking resemblance to the world and characteristics that audiences know from Denis Villeneuve’s films. On the one hand, maintaining aesthetic continuity between projects helps build the universe that Warner Bros. searching, but, on the other hand, raises questions about technological development.
Part of what it does Dune As fascinating as a science fiction narrative is, technology doesn’t play as predominant a role as in something like The Matrix or Blade runner. Sure, there are spaceships and energy shields, but they don’t have as much of an impact on the story as the Voice. As discussed in Dune: Prophecy first episode, computers and artificial intelligence are mostly out of the picture after the Butlerian Jihadbut that still doesn’t explain why other technologies haven’t evolved much over 10,000 years.
The History of Holtzman Energy Shields in Dune
Shields are explained by the Holtzman effect
The audience is first introduced to energy shields in Dune during a training scene between Paul Atreides and Gurney Halleck as they practice sword fighting. THE shield surrounds its user and only allows material to pass through if it enters at a slow enough pacemaking guns less effective than swords in world combat. Swordsmen like Duncan Idaho use a skillful technique of altering the rhythm of their attacks to pierce through their opponent’s shields.
Node Dune books, it is explained that shields are a result of the Holtzman Effect, developed by a physicist named Holtzman more than 10,000 years before the birth of Paul Atreides. The Holtzman Effect was crucial not only to shields but also to space travel in the Dune universe. The general absence of computers may be the reason why technology will not develop much in the next few millennia, and by the way, TV Line I spoke to Dune: Prophecy executive producer Jordan Goldberg, who said the following:
“I can’t give you an answer why technology has not evolved over 10,000 years – except for the possibility that as long ago as when Dune: Prophecy is set up, seemed to be doing the job perfectly well. And therefore it may not have required any updates.”
How much does the Dune universe really change over 10,000 years?
The rise of the Bene Gesserit is the biggest change the show will explore
Given what was shown in Dune: ProphecyThere doesn’t seem to be much change over time. House Corrino is in power in Selusa Secundus; they are fighting to maintain control of Arrakis due to Fremen and threats from noble houses; House Harkonnen and House Atreides have a rivalry. The biggest change will undoubtedly be the rise of the Bene Gesserit, which is still in early form compared to what was shown in the Dune: Prophecy until here.
Sources: TV Line