The beloved sci-fi comedy Futurama is no stranger to Frank Herbert’s Dune, featuring nods to stillsuits and space worms. But with its newly launched 11th season, Futurama takes its Dune tributes to a whole new level.
In an exclusive clip from the upcoming episode “Parasites Regained” (a spiritual sequel to Season 3’s “Parasites Lost,” perhaps?), we see Fry, Leela, Zoidberg, and Bender struggling to brave a mysterious desert landscape. There, they encounter a fearsome sandworm that looks like an oranger, fuzzier version of the show-stealing sandworms of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune. We also get Futurama‘s version of the powerful spice melange, a psychedelic drug that turns Leela’s eyes orange instead of Dune‘s classic blue-within-blue.
But this being Futurama, you know there’s a ridiculous twist.
Turns out, Fry and friends aren’t navigating the sands of a hostile alien planet. Instead, they’re in Nibbler’s litter box, having shrunk themselves down to figure out why he’s sick.
It’s probably not the best idea to be inhaling all that litter box sand, but hey, anything for a sweet, sweet Dune parody.
Futurama is now streaming on Hulu, with new episodes weekly on Mondays.
