What 'Dune' Doesn’t Tell You: Where the Worms on Arrakis Came From — and Who Controlled Them in Ancient Times
The planet once looked completely different.
Dune is one of the most legendary science fiction films and book series. Millions of people around the world follow the battle for Arrakis with excitement, fall in love with its heroes, and hold their breath at the sight of the giant Sandworms. But despite the franchise’s popularity, one question remains that almost no one asks aloud: where exactly did these creatures come from? Who brought them to Arrakis — and why?
Strangers in the sand
Arrakis was not always home to the Worms. In the distant past, the planet resembled Earth — with lakes, vegetation, and living creatures. But everything changed when sandtrout — the larval form of the future Worm — arrived. It is believed this happened by accident: an ancient order called the Muadru brought them from another planet, not realising what the consequences would be. Over time, the sandtrout altered the climate, turning Arrakis into a desert — and gave rise to a new species.
Where is the Worms’ homeworld?
To this day, no one knows exactly where the Sandworms originated. One theory suggests their native planet was lifeless by human standards — and thus went unnoticed. Or perhaps the conditions there didn’t allow the sandtrout to evolve as they did on Arrakis.
Why don’t the Worms live anywhere else?
Attempts to 'breed' Worms on other worlds have failed. Experiments were conducted, but the Worms died each time. Only Arrakis provided everything they needed: a specific kind of water, sand, pressure — and possibly even unknown scientific factors.
But they survived
After the destruction of Arrakis, a young Worm was rescued and brought to Chapterhouse, where it unexpectedly adapted. Later, the population was successfully restored on two additional planets. The Worms survived because they are not merely a biological species. They are a symbol of power, religion, resources, and fear. They are what made Dune truly Dune.
