New show dubbed 'next Game of Thrones' has fans demanding more episodes after shocking debut

Sky and HBO's spin-off prequel to Denis Villeneuve's epic Dune saga has just premiered, and fans are already hooked.

Dune: Prophecy is set a whopping 10,000 years before Timothee Chalamet's character Paul Atreides rises to power and draws inspiration from Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson's novel, Sisterhood of Dune. The original Dune universe was the brainchild of renowned author Frank Herbert.

The new Max and Legendary Television series, which viewers are already likening to Game of Thrones and its prequel spin-off House of the Dragon, made its debut on Sky and HBO last night.

The plot centres around two Harkonnen sisters as they battle forces that pose a threat to the future of humanity, and lay the foundations for the legendary sect known as the Bene Gesserit.

The series serves as a precursor to 2021's Dune and 2024's Dune: Part Two, featuring a star-studded cast including Chalamet, Zendaya, Austin Butler, Javier Bardem, Christopher Walken, Florence Pugh, Lea Seydoux, Rebecca Ferguson and Stellan Skarsgard.

The Dune films tell the tale of Paul Atreides, who lands on the near-barren and perilous planet Arrakis after his father assumes a role there.

Paul is tasked with securing the future of his family and his people - amidst a brewing conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of 'spice', the most valuable resource in the known universe.

Meanwhile, Dune: Prophecy delves into the religious order of the Bene Gesserit and its shadowy origins, reports .

The cast of the show boasts talents like Emily Watson, Mark Strong, Chris Mason, Emma Canning, Josh Heuston, and Sarah-Sofie Boussnina.

The premiere of the new series, ending with a jaw-dropping and violent twist, has already set social media abuzz with fan reactions.

One viewer took to X, previously known as , to express: "#DuneProphecy (starring Mark Strong among others) on #HBO is a very interesting show."

"This here might be the next Game of Thrones. I hesitate to rate it as "Epic" after 1 episode. But that episode was 9/10 at least. Some VERY good actors. Go. Watch. If you like the books or movies you will not be disappointed." (sic)

Another enthusiast wrote: "#DuneProphecy setup a deadly Game of Thrones chess match. Funny considering it's was the Dune books that inspired #GOT Pretty keeps the look and feel of the reboot movies. We finally we the thinking machines which is basically the Cylons." (sic)

A third chimed in with their review, tweeting about their enjoyment of the first episode and anticipation for the story's progression, hinting at a Game of Thrones vibe in space. They penned: "I enjoyed epi 1 of Dune: Prophecy let's see where the story goes. Very Game of Thrones in space with black widows?" (sic)

Yet another viewer shared their excitement after watching the first episode, predicting that it could become one of their all-time favourite shows post-Game of Thrones. They tweeted: "just finished watching dune prophecy episode 1 and i already feel like this is gonna be my best shows ever after game of thrones." (sic)

One excited viewer posted: "#DuneProphecy is going to be a nice ride! A Dramatic Sci-Fi series! It felt like a mix of Game of Thrones and . Getting to see how The Sisterhood came about is intriguing! I'm always curious with how they execute prequels since we know what happens already! Looking forward to seeing where they take us with this series! I'm already invested! " (sic).

Another fan wrote: "Just finished the first episode of #DuneProphecy So far off to a great start. Space Game of Thrones before Game of Thrones. Never trust a Bene Gesserit." (sic)

"Dune prophecy is literally just game of thrones in space and I f***ing love it," chimed in another thrilled viewer. (sic)

Yet another fan raved: "HBO hit it out of the park with the premiere of #DuneProphecy. Had a very Game of Thrones feel to with many interesting storylines and complex characters. Leaves you wanting more as soon as the credits begin to roll!" (sic)

Dune: Prophecy airs Mondays at 2am in the UK, exclusively on Sky Atlantic and NOW. This coincides with its 9pm ET/6pm PT airdate in the US, where you can watch it on HBO or Max.