WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Dune: Prophecy.Max's series Dune: Prophecy dropped a huge bombshell when one of its main characters made a small reference to humanity's original home planet, “Old Earth”node Dune episode 5 of the prequel. Set millennia in the future, the story of Dune takes place on a variety of planets throughout the Known Universe, including Caladan, Giedi Prime, Kaitain, and, most notably, Arrakis. However, Old Earth is largely absent from the story, with almost none of the characters from the Dune franchise even mentioning this or humanity's time on the planet throughout the saga's many stories.
While the narrative of Dune has focused primarily on humanity's future beyond Earth, the various writers of the books have built a considerable history around Earth and what happened to the Big Blue Marble. Until now, the Dune: Prophecy series and the two by director Denis Villeneuve Dune the films took this source material and made a loose but faithful adaptation of its canon, including the world humanity left behind.
Earth's history is complicated in the Dune Canon
Dune's authors have changed over the years, leading to a complex lore
THE Dune franchise is the idea of author Frank Herbert, who completed six novels for the series in her lifetime centering on Paul, which focus on the stories of Paul, his children, and the Bene Gesserit. It was during the second novel in the franchise Messiah Dunethat Emperor Paul began exploring the history of Old Earth, comparing himself to leaders like Adolf Hitler and Genghis Khan as he tried to pave the way for a better future after the holy war he unleashed on the Known Universe.
Although Brian Herbert has continued his father's legacy for nearly 40 years, the Dune The franchise's change of writers has led to different accounts of events in its timeline, including the fate of Old Earth and its history with the dreaded AI, the “thinking machines”.
However, Herbert's son Brian took over writing the Dune books after the first's death in 1986, expanding the franchise's lore with several prequels and sequels with co-author Kevin J. Anderson. Your combined efforts brought the total number of Dune books for 23. One of his works, from 2012 Dune Brotherhoodactually became the main inspiration for Max's Dune: Prophecy. Although Brian Herbert has continued his father's legacy for nearly 40 years, the Dune The franchise's change of writers has led to different accounts of events in its timeline, including the fate of Old Earth and its history with the dreaded AI, the “thinking machines”.
Earth's role in machine warfare explained
The people of Earth paved the way for their victory over the machines
Node Dune franchise, Earth played a significant role in the ancient war between humanity and the “thinking machines” that once conquered the Known Universe. After a rebellion against machines occurred on Earth, humans rose up against their AI oppressors. This culminated in the latter's destruction in the legendary conflict known as the Butlerian Jihad.or the Great Revolt, about 10,000 years before the events of Dune. As shown in episode 1 of Dune: ProphecySince then, humanity has become fearful of these machines, banning them from existing again and replacing them with human computers, the Mentats.
After the Butlerian Jihad, the Commission of Ecumenical Translators met in the Old Land to create the Orange Catholic Bible, a text that combined all religious teachings throughout human history. However, by the time Paul Atreides becomes Emperor of the Known Universe at the end of the original Dune book, knowledge of Old Earth was practically lost. Only a select few know about humanity's time during Earth's Golden Age, while many others consider it just a myth.
Earth was almost destroyed after being hit by a planetoid
Earth survived the destruction, but humanity had already left its home world
Planet Earth has faced more than its fair share of tragedies in the world of Dune. According to The Dune Encyclopedia, Old Earth was hit by another planetoid thousands of years after humanity colonized the solar system. Although Old Earth was nearly annihilated, humanity's numbers had already grown far beyond Earth's population as they explored the Known Universe and expanded their territories, ensuring their survival for centuries to come.
After the Old Earth disaster, the Empire moved its seat of power from the planet to the asteroid Ceres. However, they did not leave Old Earth without returning to the ruined planet and recovering some surviving artifacts from human history, which they then scattered throughout the Known Universe. After they had reseeded the Old Earth with plant and animal life, the Imperium declared the planet becoming a natural park. Despite this, humanity eventually left their home world since then as they continued to colonize other planets.
Does The Dune Movies & TV Prequel Show reference Earth?
There are little references to humanity's home world throughout the Dune franchise.
In episode 5 of Dune: Prophecy, Emperor Javicco Corrino referred to the Old Land in his speech to his subjects. He said: “Since humanity’s time on Old Earth, those whose actions seek to destroy the social order have always guaranteed a swift response.” This is the first time the prequel show or either of Denis Villeneuve's two Dune the films made no explicit reference to Earth. It's clear at this point in the franchise's timeline that humanity still knows when it lived on the planet.
Although knowledge of Old Earth has practically disappeared from human memory, DuneButler's House Atreides exhibits a strong connection to the planet, even 10,000 years after the Butlerian Jihad. His illustrious family name is a clear reference to the mythical Greek hero Atreus. Furthermore, in the world Dune, Its lineage is said to be traced back to the figure's sonKing Agamemnon, increasing his illustrious legacy within the Empire. Gurney Halleck is also seen reading the Orange Catholic Bible in 2021 Dune: Part One, showing that he is well versed in human history and the teachings of Old Earth.
Overall, the Dune the franchise paid more attention to the story taking place after humanity left Old Earth. Despite this and the change in writers after Frank Herbert's death, the creatives who continue to build the franchise have taken great care in development Dunethe story. With stories like Dune: ProphecyThis science fiction franchise explores how humanity left Old Earth and how their past on the planet continues to impact them in the present as they live throughout the Known Universe.