Global InformationBene Gesserit information
 | This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (June 2023) |
| Bene Gesserit | |
|---|---|
| Dune franchise element | |
 Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam (Siân Phillips) and other Bene Gesserit from David Lynch's Dune (1984) | |
| First appearance |
|
| Created by | Frank Herbert |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| In-universe information | |
| Type | Organization |
| Traits and abilities | Superior physical and mental conditioning |
The Bene Gesserit (/ˈbɛniː ˈdʒɛsərɪt/)[1] are a group in Frank Herbert's fictional Dune universe. A powerful social, religious, and political force, the Bene Gesserit is described as an exclusive sisterhood whose members train their bodies and minds through years of physical and mental conditioning to obtain superhuman powers and abilities that seem magical to outsiders.[2] The group seeks to acquire power and influence to direct humanity on an enlightened path, a concerted effort planned and executed over millennia.[3]
Members who have acquired the breadth of Bene Gesserit abilities are called Reverend Mothers; some outsiders call them "witches" for their secretive nature and misunderstood powers. As the skills of a Bene Gesserit are as desirable as an alliance with the Sisterhood itself, they are able to charge a fee to teach women from Great Houses, and install some of their initiates as wives and concubines to their advantage.[4][5] Loyal only to themselves and their collective goals, Bene Gesserit sometimes feign other loyalties to attain their goals and avoid outside interference.
The Bene Gesserit are primary characters in all of Frank Herbert's Dune novels, as well as the prequels and sequels written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. They also feature prominently in the multiple adaptations of the Dune series: the 1984 film Dune;[6] the 2000 TV miniseries Frank Herbert's Dune;[7][8][9][10] and its 2003 sequel, Frank Herbert's Children of Dune;[11][12] as well as the 2021 feature film Dune,[13][14] and its 2024 sequel, Dune: Part Two.[15] A television series based on the Bene Gesserit, called Dune: Prophecy, will debut in late 2024 on Max.[16] Some of their fictional powers are analyzed and deconstructed from a real-world scientific perspective in the book The Science of Dune (2008).[17][18][19]
- ^ Dune: Creating the Audiobooks (Official promotional video, includes images of Frank Herbert's pronunciation notes for some terms). Macmillan Audio. December 23, 2008. Event occurs at 4:13. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2010.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (June 10, 2019). "Dune Series Ordered at WarnerMedia Streaming Service, Denis Villeneuve to Direct". Variety. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
- ^ Campbell, Maude (February 15, 2019). "Everything We Know So Far About Denis Villeneuve's Dune". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
- ^ Herbert, Frank (1965). Dune.
- ^ Herbert, Frank (1981). God Emperor of Dune.
- ^ Maslin, Janet (December 14, 1984). "Movie Review: Dune (1984)". The New York Times. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
- ^ Stasio, Marilyn (December 3, 2000). "Cover Story: Future Myths, Adrift in the Sands of Time". The New York Times. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Fritz, Steve (December 4, 2000). "Dune: Remaking the Classic Novel". Cinescape. Archived from the original on March 16, 2008. Retrieved November 9, 2008.
- ^ Dagan, Carmel (November 29, 2000). "Frank Herbert's Dune". Variety. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
- ^ Paterson, Robert (November 30, 2000). "Dune's Princess Irulan Speaks". Space.com. Archived from the original on August 20, 2001. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Wertheimer, Ron (March 15, 2003). "Television Review: A Stormy Family on a Sandy Planet". The New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
- ^ Fries, Laura (March 11, 2003). "Review: Children of Dune". Variety. Archived from the original on August 21, 2015. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Kit, Borys (September 5, 2018). "Rebecca Ferguson in Talks to Star in Denis Villeneuve's Dune". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 6, 2018. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
- ^ Kit, Borys (January 15, 2019). "Charlotte Rampling Joins Timothee Chalamet in Dune". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 30, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (June 21, 2022). "Dune Part 2: Léa Seydoux to Play Lady Margot in Upcoming Sequel for Legendary". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
- ^ Iannucci, Rebecca (November 2, 2023). "HBO Lays Out 2024 Release Plan for House of the Dragon, Curb and Others". TVLine. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- ^ Grazier, Kevin R., ed. (2008). The Science of Dune: An Unauthorized Exploration into the Real Science Behind Frank Herbert's Fictional Universe. Psychology of Popular Culture. Dallas, TX: BenBella Books. ISBN 978-1-933771-28-1.
- ^ "The Science of Dune". Smart Pop Books. January 2008. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
- ^ Evans, Clay (March 14, 2008). "Review: Exploring Frank Herbert's 'Duniverse'". Daily Camera. Archived from the original on March 19, 2008. Retrieved March 19, 2008.