"Children of Dune" (2003) (mini)TV mini-series

Director:

Greg Yaitanes

Writers (WGA):

Frank Herbert (books)
John Harrison (teleplay)

Release Date:

16 March 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Born to rule an empire. Destined to tear it apart.

Plot:

The twins of Paul "Muad'dib" Atreides become embroiled in the political landscape of Arrakis ("Dune") and the rest of the universe.

Plot Keywords:

Desert World | Desert | Dune | Empire | Sequel

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 7 nominations

Cast

Alec Newman	...	Paul Atreides / Muad'Dib
Julie Cox	...	Irulan Corrino-Atreides
Edward Atterton	...	Duncan Idaho
Ian McNeice	...	Baron Vladimir Harkonnen
Barbora Kodetová	...	Chani (as Barbara Kodetová)
Steven Berkoff	...	Stilgar
Daniela Amavia	...	Alia Atreides
P.H. Moriarty	...	Gurney Halleck
James McAvoy	...	Leto Atreides II
Jessica Brooks	...	Ghanima Atreides
Jonathan Bruun	...	Farad'n Corrino
Rik Young	...	Javid
Martin McDougall	...	Scytale
Gee Williams	...	Bijaz
Alice Krige	...	Lady Jessica Atreides
Susan Sarandon	...	Princess Wensicia Corrino
Mariano Titanti	...	F'radn (5 years)
Marek Vasut	...	Tyekanik
Jakob Schwarz	...	Otheym
Klára Issová	...	Lichna
Zuzana Geislerová	...	Reverend Mother Mohiam
Karel Dobry	...	Korba
Ivo Novák	...	Farok
Predrag Bjelac	...	Namri
Zdenek Maryska	...	Muriz
Pavel Kríz	...	Al-Fali
Viliam Docolomansky	...	Tariq
Lana Likic	...	Sabiha
Terrence Stone	...	Edric (voice)
Peter Varga	...	Smuggler #2
Gregory Finn	...	Smuggler Escort (as Greg Finn)
Jan Pavel Filipensky	...	Sardaukar Tiger Trainer (as Jan Filipensky)
Pavel Cajzl	...	Trainer
David Mottl	...	Teen Tiger Victim (boy-twin)
Kamila Zenkerová	...	Teen Tiger Victim (girl-twin)
Filip Tomsa	...	Farok's Son
Miroslav Táborský	...	Fremen Lieutenant
Martin Dejdar	...	Fremen Captain
Rudolf Pellar	...	Naib #1
Jan Unger	...	Naib #2
Jan Nemejovsky	...	Naib #3
David O'Kelly	...	Qizarate Priest #1
James Babson	...	Qizarate Priest #2
Noel le Bon	...	Qizarate Priest #3 (as Noel Le Bon)
Daniel Brown	...	Qizarate Priest #4
Dagmar Bláhová	...	Old Reverend Mother (as Dagmar Dasha Bláhová)
Kristina Madericova	...	Otheym's Caretaker
David Fisher	...	Palimbasha
Eva Aichmajerová	...	Fremen Midwife
Daniela Krhutova	...	Ranting Woman
Veronika Bellová	...	Girl #1
David Backovsky	...	Javid (10 years old)
Pavel Bezdek	...	Tuek's Son
Daniel Rous	...	Sentry #1
Jeffrey Stewart Smith	...	Sentry #2
Petr Vobecky	...	Imperial Commander #1
Daniel Pietrucha	...	Imperial Guard #1
Paul Lauden	...	Imperial Guard #2
Srdjan Simeonovich	...	Fedaykin #1
Mikulás Kren	...	Fedaykin #2 & #3
Jirí Wohanka	...	Fedaykin Commander
David Forrester	...	Fedaykin Commander
Michaela Strnadova	...	Woman in Crowd
Robert Nizník	...	Fugitive
Alvin Van Der Kuech	...	Merchant #1
Nada Safratova	...	Merchant #2
Jan Kuzelka	...	Merchant #3
Ivan Shvedoff	...	Dignitary at Funeral (as Ivan Shvdoff)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dragan Radivojevic Lav	...	Quizarate Priest #6 (as Dragan Radivojevic)

Directed by
Greg Yaitanes

Writing credits (WGA)
Frank Herbert		(books "Dune Messiah" and "Children of Dune")
John Harrison		(teleplay)

Produced by
John Harrison	....	co-producer
David R. Kappes	....	producer (as David Kappes)
Michael D. Messina	....	associate producer
Richard P. Rubinstein	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Brian Tyler

Cinematography by
Artur Reinhart

Film Editing by
Harry B. Miller III

Casting by
Lynn Kressel

Production Design by
Ondrej Nekvasil

Art Direction by
David Mateásko
Václav Novak

Set Decoration by
Marie Raskova

Costume Design by
Jan Pistek
Theodor Pistek

Makeup Department
Michaela Belíková	....	assistant makeup artist: second unit
Marilyn Carbone	....	makeup artist: Susan Sarandon
Kim Collea	....	makeup artist
John Cormican	....	special makeup effects artist
Mark Coulier	....	special makeup effects artist
Chris Fitzgerald	....	paint designer: leto
Václav Frank	....	makeup artist
Dana Kohoutova	....	makeup artist
Tamara Koubová	....	hair stylist
Tamara Koubová	....	makeup artist
Katerina Kupková	....	assistant makeup artist: second unit
Paul LeBlanc	....	hair stylist: Susan Sarandon
Alena Mareckova	....	assistant makeup artist: second unit
Geoffrey Portass	....	special makeup effects artist (as Geoff Portass)
Jaroslav Samal	....	chief makeup artist
Katka Vávrová	....	assistant makeup artist
Radka Vávrová	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Michal Cerveny	....	unit manager
David R. Kappes	....	unit production manager (as David Kappes)
Charles Miller	....	unit production manager: Prague
Lori Slomka	....	post-production supervisor
Pavel Solc	....	production manager
Pavel Typolt	....	unit manager: second unit
Karen Mayeda Vranek	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Matthew J. Clark	....	first assistant director
Miro Gábor	....	second unit director
Larry D. Horricks	....	first assistant director: second unit (as Larry Horricks)
Petr Kaderabek	....	second assistant director
Trevor Puckle	....	second assistant director
Philip Seeger	....	second assistant director: second unit
Michaela Strnadova	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Milan Babik	....	propman
Roman Bandas	....	construction manager
Stepan Cerveny	....	construction manager
Jaroslav Fiala	....	set dresser
Jiri Kafka	....	construction manager
Sasa Kozak	....	construction manager
Miroslav Mraz	....	stand-by construction
Brandon Peterson	....	storyboard artist
Dennis Todorovic	....	art department coordinator
Karel Vanásek	....	property master
Jaromir Vaverka	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Erik Aadahl	....	supervising sound editor
Ulrika Akander	....	dialogue editor
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer
Dicken Berglund	....	adr mixer
Jane Boegel	....	adr editor
Tom Bognar	....	sound assistant
Colin Chapman	....	adr supervisor: London
James J. Clinton	....	sound assistant
John T. Cucci	....	foley artist (as John Cucci)
Ryan Darden	....	assistant sound editor
Russell DeWolf	....	dialogue editor (as Russ DeWolf)
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer
Nathan Hankins	....	sound editor
Michal Holubec	....	sound recordist
Jaroslav Jehlicka	....	sound mixer
Scott Kramer	....	sound recordist
Samuel Lehmer	....	sound re-recording mixer
Martin Lonek	....	boom operator
Michael Magill	....	adr editor
Larry Mann	....	sound supervisor (as Lawrence H. Mann)
John Morris	....	foley editor
Todd Murakami	....	sound effects editor
Dan O'Connell	....	foley artist
Ralph Osborn	....	sound conforming editor
Mark Pappas	....	foley editor
Jeffrey Perkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Roman Rigo	....	boom operator
Christina Tucker	....	adr mixer
Jay Wilkinson	....	sound effects supervisor
Chris Winter	....	sound assistant (as Christopher Winter)

Special Effects by
Jan Benedikt	....	special effects technician
Chris Fitzgerald	....	sculptor
Jim Healy	....	special effects supervisor
Myf Hopkins	....	prosthetics creator
Clive R. Kay	....	special effects contact lenses
Eduard Kucera	....	sand technician
Andy Lee	....	prosthetics artist
Martin Pryca	....	special effects coordinator
Ondrej Pryca	....	special effects technician
Vladimir Smejkal	....	sand technician
Rudolf Tudzaroff	....	special effects technician
Kenny Wilson	....	model/mold shop supervisor

Visual Effects by
Tony Alderson	....	digital animator
Tony Alderson	....	digital effects supervisor
Whitney Scott Bain	....	visual effects production assistant
Jim Bandsuh	....	visual effects illustrator
Gary E. Beach	....	assistant visual effects supervisor
R. Edward Black	....	digital animator
David Blum	....	visual effects compositor
Glenn Campbell	....	lead visual effects compositor
Phil Carbonaro	....	digital artist (as Philip Carbonaro)
Steve Carpenter	....	digital artist
Ryan Carter	....	digital artist
Ales Dlabac	....	Inferno artist
Linda Drake	....	visual effects editor
Linda Drake	....	visual effects supervisor
Chris Ervin	....	digital compositor
Steven Fagerquist	....	digital artist (as Steve Fagerquist)
Ernest D. Farino	....	visual effects supervisor
Steve Fong	....	visual effects compositor
Mark Freund	....	visual effects supervisor
Miro Gal	....	Inferno artist
John Gibbons	....	digital artist
Piers Hampton	....	project producer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Andrew Harlow	....	visual effects animator
Adam Hawkey	....	digital compositor: iOFilm
Edward Helmers	....	digital artist
Brad Herman	....	digital crowd programmer: Area 51
Paul Hill	....	visual effects compositor
Judith Holzman	....	visual effects animator
Michael F. Hoover	....	digital artist
Adam Howard	....	visual effects: Technicolor/Complete Post
Barry Howell	....	lead visual effects animator
Bruce Douglas Johnson	....	visual effects supervisor
Maros Kesjar	....	digital effects artist
Peter Koczera	....	digital artist
Vít Komrzy	....	visual effects coordinator: Prague
Kevin Kutchaver	....	visual effects: HimAnI Productions
Michael Lloyd	....	digital matte artist
Al Magliochetti	....	visual effects
Michelle Massie	....	visual effects production manager
Don L. McCoy	....	digital artist
Tim McHugh	....	visual effects producer
Danny Mudgett	....	digital compositor supervisor
Shannon Noble	....	digital artist
Tim Pyle	....	CG animator
Andrew Romine	....	digital artist: Area 51
Brian Smallwood	....	digital compositor
Jiri Stamfest	....	matte artist: digital painter
Jon Terada	....	digital artist
Mike Uguccioni	....	digital compositor
David Vána	....	visual effects supervisor: Prague
Pam Vick	....	visual effects compositor
Jan Vseticek	....	visual effects coordinator
Bob Wiatr	....	digital compositor
Ken Wilder	....	CG animator
Chris Zapara	....	lead CG animator
John Hirota	....	visual effects compositor assistant (uncredited)

Stunts
Pavel Bezdek	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Petr Drozda	....	stunt coordinator
Zdenek Dvoracek	....	stunts
Rene Hajek	....	stunts
Jiri Horky	....	stunts
Martin Hub	....	stunts
Jindrich Klaus	....	stunts
Pavel Kratky	....	stunts
Ladislav Lahoda	....	stunt coordinator
Robert Lahoda	....	stunts
Miroslav Lhotka	....	stunts
Ivan Mares	....	stunts
Miroslav Navratil	....	stunts
Tomas Peterac	....	stunts
Jaroslav Peterka	....	stunts
Pavel Vokoun	....	stunts
Rudolf Vrba	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Mike Ansbach	....	camera operator: video segments
Vladimir Bursik	....	grip
Miro Gábor	....	cinematographer: second unit
Daniel Havelka	....	grip
Jan Hladik	....	grip: second unit
Michael Houzvicka	....	grip
Robert Kodera	....	key grip: second unit
Vaclav Kovarik	....	gaffer
Kacper Lisowski	....	camera operator
Viktor Lonek	....	video assist operator
Angel Quiroga	....	grip
Albrecht Silberberger	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Nancy Bishop	....	casting: Czech Republic
Lynn Kressel	....	casting: USA
Minna Pyyhkala	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Zuzana Machova	....	key costumer

Editorial Department
Carmelo Casalenuovo	....	second assistant editor
Andrea Folprecht	....	assistant editor
Brad Jones	....	editing intern
William Lorton	....	first assistant editor
Timothy Serda	....	on-line assistant editor
Sati Tooray	....	colorist

Music Department
Dante Dauz	....	scoring assistant
Robert Elhai	....	orchestrator
Gary Krause	....	music editor
Dana Niu	....	orchestrator
Steve Salani	....	orchestra producer
Brian Tyler	....	orchestrator
Jeff Vaughn	....	scoring engineer

Transportation Department
Gabriela Dolenska	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
David Adam	....	set production assistant
Kerry Andrews	....	post-production accountant
Emily V. Austin-Bruns	....	executive assistant: Richard P. Rubinstein (as Emily Austin)
Gavin Barclay	....	production assistant
Vanna Bonta	....	additional voices
Julie Brown	....	script supervisor
Michal Caban	....	choreographer
Keith Collea	....	HDTV supervisor
Tricia Deering	....	unit publicist
Boban Dvorak	....	office production assistant
Tereza Horakova	....	assistant production coordinator: Prague
Lukas Kaplan	....	production assistant
Michael Keller	....	assistant production coordinator: New York
Marianna Krenova	....	stand-in
Marija Nikolic	....	assistant: David Kappes
Desmond Paes	....	first assistant accountant
Harrison Pierce	....	executive assistant: Richard P. Rubinstein
Marek Sedlarik	....	set production assistant
Marcela Soldátová	....	accounting coordinator
Devin Sterling	....	project manager
Jan Svoboda	....	assistant location manager
Marketa Tom	....	assistant: Greg Yaitanes
Aneta Valaskova	....	location manager
Jana Vesela	....	production coordinator
Zdenek Vrubel	....	cashier
Dale Wyatt	....	dialogue coach

Production Companies

• Blixa Film Produktion GmbH & Co. KG (in association with)
• Hallmark Entertainment
• New Amsterdam Entertainment
• TTP Film Distributions II LLC

Distributors

• Buena Vista Television
• Chum Television
• Sci-Fi Channel, The

Special Effects

• AI Effects Inc. (visual effects)
• Area 51 (visual effects)
• HimAnI Productions (visual effects)
• Howard Anderson Company, The (visual effects)
• Pacific Title Digital (visual effects)
• Technicolor Creative Services (visual effects)
• Universal Production Partners (UPP)
• iO Films (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Bystrouska  sound equipment provided by
• CE VideoAssist Rental  VideoAssist equipment provided by
• Orbit Digital  Avids
• Orchestra.Net  orchestra
• Panavision UK  camera equipment provided by
• Panavision  camera equipment serviced by

Also Known As:

Dune - Bedrohung des Imperiums (Germany) (second part title)
Dune - Der Messias (Germany) (first part title)
Dune - Die Kinder des Wüstenplaneten (Germany) (third part title)
Dune - Krieg um den Wüstenplaneten (Germany) (cut version)
Frank Herbert's Children of Dune (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

Czech Republic:235 min (3 parts) | Germany:182 min (2004) (cut version) | USA:266 min

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | Singapore:M18 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Germany:12 | UK:12 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Prague, Czech Republic

Company:

Blixa Film Produktion GmbH & Co. KG

Trivia:

According to interviews, Alice Krige was John Harrison's first choice to play Jessica in "Dune" (2000) (mini), but was unavailable. However, Saskia Reeves had to back out of this series because of pregnancy, so Krige was re-offered the part.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the beginning of Part 2 (The Children), when we first see Leto, his eyes are completely normal. But when the camera turns back to him, his eyes have the bright blue tint from the spice.

Quotes:

Alia: I heard about your little stunt in the desert.
Leto: Well, I prefer to think of it as expert flying but carry on...
Alia: With your encouragement of course!
Ghanima: Our Father's memories were very instructive.
Alia: Well, I suppose I should be grateful I don't have to tell your grandmother you were lost to a worm before she was supposed to see you.
Ghanima: That would have been an unpleasant task, wouldn't it?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

One of the Best Sci-Fi Series

I admit being a big fan of the 'Dune' books. I consider them being a masterpiece, not only of the science-fiction genre, but of the world literature as a whole. Yes, nothing less. I am a books lover, and I have read very few books reaching this level of complexity and with such a philosophical depth when reflecting what the faith of mankind will be in the future. Reflections on democracy and dictatorship, ecological balance, holy wars, genetics, love, you find them all melted at high artistic temperature.

Having revealed this, any film inspired by 'Dune' must reach a high stake for me to like it. A great director as David Lynch already tried his forces, with good (but not perfect) results. The current series, inspired by the second and third books in the series are very faithful to the original. Certainly the books are that powerful, so people who did not read them may find some details obscure, or some conflict details un-explained. Well, my only advice - go and read the books! You will not regret.

'Dune' is golden material for mini-series, but also puts some serious technical challenges. The team who realized 'Children of Dune' met them well for most of the time. Some of the effects look Disney-like, and this is the only big minus I found in this film. Otherwise, a very good cast does a wonderful job in re-creating Herbert's world of characters. The action has logic, and each of the third parts is well driven from a tension point of view.

I hope that more is coming. If they approach the fourth book, that one has even more challenges, as Frank Herbert's fantasy got even wilder, in what I think was one of the best books in the series. In any case, 'Children of Dune' is memorable, and gets a 9/10 on my personal scale.