Johan Renck, who had signed to direct the first two episodes of HBO Max's Dune prequel TV series, Dune: The Sisterhood, has exited the series. Shirley Henderson, who was supposed to play a prominent role, is also leaving the series, which started production in late 2022. 

Previously, creator Diane Ademu-John, who had written the pilot script, stepped down as co-showrunner. Veteran TV writer-producer Alison Schapker to become the sole showrunner of the series.

According to Deadline, Johan Renck left the series, as his auteur approach did not suit the streamer's vision for the series. 

Search is underway for the replacements as production has been put on hold. 

Dune: The Sisterhood is set thousands of years before the events of Denis Villeneuve's Dune and will follow the rise of the all-female group Bene Gesserit.

The series also stars Emily Watson, Indira Varma, Travis Fimmel, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Faoileann Cunningham, Aoife Hinds, and Chloe Lea.