The Bene Gesserit’s Link With Thinking Machines in Dune Movies & Prophecy Explained

Dune: Prophecy fans are wondering whether the Bene Gesserit use Thinking Machines in the series and in the Dune films. The series, set approximately 10,000 years before Paul Atreides’ story, revolves around the sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen and their formation of the religious and political Bene Gesserit sect.

Here’s your question answered.

Do the Bene Gesserit use Thinking Machines in Dune movies and Prophecy series?

In Dune Prophecy, The Bene Gesserit use Thinking Machines. This plot element was adapted from Sisterhood of Dune by authors Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Raquella used the thinking machines’ computer technology to further her secret plan of creating and indexing superior genetic lines for the ultimate goal of having fair Imperium rulers. Valya Harkonnen was also made aware of this plan. It is also suggested that she made Tula aware of the technology as well.

However, its use is actually banned. This is because it is forbidden by the Imperium and Emperor Corrino. This ban came into effect following the Butlerian Jihad. The Butlerian Jihad was a war between thinking machines and humanity that culminated in the former’s defeat.

Moreover, Reverend Mother Dorotea was strictly against the use of Thinking Machines. Dorotea did so by teaching the sisters in training the “Great Commandment,” which read, “Thou shalt not make a machine in the likeness of a human mind.” Although it is banned by the Imperium, Tula goes against rules by using Thinking Machines to revive Lila following her death in The Agony.

The Dune movies, however, depicted the Bene Gesserit as not having once broken the “Great Commandment” to use Thinking Machines for their own purposes. The same is the case for Frank Herbert’s Dune novels. This effectively contradicts what was shown in Dune: Prophecy and Sisterhood of Dune.

Dune: Prophecy airs new episodes on HBO, every Sunday. Diane Ademu-John and Alison Schapker helmed the series. Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Travis Fimmel, Jodhi May, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Chloe Lea, and Mark Strong, among many others, make up the main cast.