Desmond Hart might be the reason that the Bene Gesserit aligns itself against House Atreides in Dune.

Dune: Prophecy has introduced the mysterious figure of Desmond Hart, a character that seems diametrically opposed to what the Sisterhood is trying to do as they vie for power in the Empire.

Desmond Hart || Credit: Legendary Pictures

Dune: Prophecy takes place about 10,000 years before the events of Dune, where Paul Atreides would realize the prophecy of the Lisan al-Gaib, a plot put into motion by the Bene Gesserit. However, the Bene Gesserit themselves seemed pretty fearful of Paul realizing that power, which could have seeded itself in the order thanks to Desmond Hart.

Desmond Hart could be the Bene Gesserit’s key to consolidating power in Arakkis

Desmond Hart served twelve tours of Arrakis, something that is considered to be a great feat at this point in Dune‘s history. There is also the fact that Deamond Hart seems to have some pretty mysterious powers, something that the Bene Gesserit have not seen before.

Now, Desmond Hart could not only serve as the inspiration for the Lisan al-Gaib plot of the Bene Gesserit but also be the reason that they fear the power of a messiah in the hands of a male figure. This could be the entire reason that Lady Jessica was asked to deliver a daughter from the Atreides line, whose transfer to Arrakis could have been foreseen or even engineered by the Bene Gesserit.

Desmond Hart having influence in Arrakis, and surviving the ordeals that he did, would aid the construction of a prophecy like that of Lisan al-Gaib. However, the Sisterhood would want that power in their hands, and would hence want it to be a woman who they can take into their school. However, having witnessed Dasmond’s power, the Bene Gesserit could be skeptical of Paul and his status as the messiah of the Fremen, which could not only upend their plans (which it did) but also take power away from them (which it will).

Dune: Messiah could explore how desperately the Bene Gesserit want to oust Paul Atreides from the Padishah Throne

Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides in Dune (2021), directed by Denis Villeneuve | Warner Bros. Pictures

Dune: Messiah opens twelve years into the reign of Paul Atreides. Paul, in the books, refuses to have a child with Irulan, who he married to consolidate his power. Instead, he stays loyal to Chani, but is unable to conceive with her either, thanks to conspiracies put into motion by Irulan. As Paul is without an heir, the Bene Gesserit are able to exploit cracks in his court to depose the Emperor.

However, given that the film version of Chani had a radically different ending than what she received in the novels, she was miffed by the fact that Paul decided to marry Princess Irulan. While the absence of Chani does weaken Paul significantly, this could have the Bene Gesserit pose a bigger problem for Timothée Chalamet‘s Paul. While the birth of his and Chani’s children will be necessary for the franchise to continue, the political machinations of the Empire could be tweaked to raise the stakes in Dune: Messiah.

Dune: Prophecy can be streamed on Max.