We are finally in the week where the world witnessed the release of one of the most anticipated shows of the year, Dune: Prophecy. A prequel to the Dune films, set 10,000 years before the existence of Paul Atreides, the series delves into the origins of the Sisterhood that eventually came to be known as the Bene Gesserit. The first episode, which streamed on JioCinema in India this Monday, established the Sisterhood and introduced Valya Harkonnen as a formidable figure not to be trifled with. It also gave us a glimpse into the Emperor’s court, where Desmond Hart makes a dramatic entrance, turning out to be the only survivor of an expedition to Arrakis. Hart claims his men were betrayed by their allies, not the Fremen. However, what he does next is the most shocking moment of the episode. 

This development highlights that there is something peculiar about Hart, further emphasized in the climax of the first episode when the Emperor mentions his desire to be freed from an arranged marriage. Hart approaches Pruwet Richese, the nine-year-old boy recently married to the Emperor’s daughter, who is awakened by a disturbing dream. Hart informs Pruwet about a war being waged by an enemy who has made themselves indispensable—clearly referring to the Sisterhood. Then, he reveals that he possesses powers of his own, using them to incinerate Pruwet alive on the spot. The same fatal effect reaches Kasha, who also dies similarly. While the exact nature of Hart’s powers remains unclear, one thing is evident: he is a significant threat to the Sisterhood.

Interestingly, Desmond Hart is an original creation by the show’s makers and does not appear in Frank Herbert’s books. This lack of source material means we can only speculate about his true identity until the show chooses to unveil it. In the meantime, we’ve compiled three top theories that offer potential insights into who Hart could be in Dune: Prophecy.

3 Theories About Desmond Hart

1. Some Kind of Poison

Since pyrokinesis does not exist in the Dune books, this rules out a major possibility. The first thought that comes to mind upon witnessing Pruwet and Kasha’s deaths is that Desmond Hart might have poisoned them. Alternatively, it could be a parasite or a bomb that he remotely triggered in both victims, causing them to burn alive without visible flames. If this theory holds true, it would make Hart a fairly one-dimensional character with no deep connection to Dune lore.

2. Is Desmond One of the Tleilaxu Gholas?

There is a strong possibility that Desmond Hart could be a Ghola—an engineered clone created by the Tleilaxu people on the planet Tleilax. While the Tleilaxu play a significant role in the books, they have yet to appear in live-action adaptations. Given that Denis Villeneuve is set to direct Dune: Messiah (Dune 3), a story where the Tleilaxu hold considerable importance, it wouldn’t be surprising if Hart turns out to be one of them. This could explain his actions and provide a direct link to the upcoming cinematic narrative.

3. Is He an Ixian Spy?

Another plausible theory is that Desmond Hart might be an Ixian spy. He could hail from the planet Ix, known for its advancements in technology and its efforts to eliminate anything sentient or robotic. There is a possibility that Hart is a cyborg or android created by the Ixians to infiltrate and gain control over the Sisterhood. This theory aligns with Ix’s agenda and could add an intriguing technological twist to the story.

Dune: Prophecy premiered on JioCinema with its first episode on November 18. New episodes will release every Monday at 7:30 am. While the show’s original language is English, it is also available in Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, and Bengali. Stay tuned to Mobile Masala for more updates on this and everything else from the world of streaming and films.

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