"Dune" (2000) TV mini-series

Director:

John Harrison

Writer (WGA):

John Harrison (teleplay)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

3 December 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Discover the greatest treasure in the universe.

Plot:

A three part mini-series based on Frank Herbert's classic Science Fiction novel entailing politics, betrayal, lust, greed and the coming of a Messiah.

Plot Keywords:

Desert | Baron | Planet | Emperor | Spice

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

William Hurt	...	Duke Leto Atreides (3 episodes, 2000)
Alec Newman	...	Muad'Dib / ... (3 episodes, 2000)
Saskia Reeves	...	Lady Jessica Atreides (3 episodes, 2000)
P.H. Moriarty	...	Gurney Halleck (3 episodes, 2000)
Ian McNeice	...	Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (3 episodes, 2000)
Matt Keeslar	...	Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen (3 episodes, 2000)
László I. Kish	...	Glossu Rabban (3 episodes, 2000)
Giancarlo Giannini	...	Padishah - Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV (3 episodes, 2000)
Julie Cox	...	Princess Irulan Corrino (3 episodes, 2000)
Uwe Ochsenknecht	...	Stilgar (3 episodes, 2000)
James Watson	...	Duncan Idaho (2 episodes, 2000)
Robert Russell	...	Dr. Yueh (2 episodes, 2000)
Laura Burton	...	St. Alia Atreides (2 episodes, 2000)
Jan Unger	...	Piter Devries (2 episodes, 2000)
Miroslav Táborský	...	Count Hasimir Fenring (2 episodes, 2000)
Barbora Kodetová	...	Chani (2 episodes, 2000)
Karel Dobry	...	Dr. Pardot Kynes / ... (2 episodes, 2000)
Zuzana Geislerová	...	Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam (2 episodes, 2000)

Also Known As:

Der Wüstenplanet (Germany)
Frank Herbert's Dune (USA) (complete title)
Frank Herbert's Dune - Der Wüstenplanet (Germany)

Runtime:

Finland:292 min (3 parts) | USA:265 min | Canada:277 min (Ontario)

Country:

USA | Canada | Germany | Italy

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:PG | Germany:16 | Ireland:15 | UK:15 | USA:Unrated | Australia:M | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Evision

Trivia:

The design of the stillsuits was inspired by NASCAR cool suits, which pump chilled water through capillaries to keep its wearer from overheating (used also in Spawn (1997)).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The computer generated "'thopters" have fans on the back wings to make them fly. The actual close-up models are missing these fans.

Quotes:

Otheym: Mah'Di! You are the voice from the outer world! You are the prophet sent to us by Shai Hulud! You must take your place, Muad Dib. You must do it now! We've waited long enough.
Paul Atreides: Do you live for the good of the tribe, Stilgar?
Stilgar: There is no other way.
Paul Atreides: And for the good of the tribe would you let me stab this knife into your heart?
Fremen: It is the way! Call him out!
Otheym: It is the way, Muad Dib!
Paul Atreides: Ways change!
[Paul throws the knife to the ground at Otheym's feet]
Otheym: [looking up angrily] Hard tasks need hard rules. You must become our Naibe so you can lead us against the Harkonnen!
Paul Atreides: And would you smash your knife before going into battle? Would you cut off your arm and leave it bloody on the floor?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Troldspejlet: (#33.11)" (2005)

Behold, for it is done.

Suffer no longer the rumors of a 6-hour-long cut of Lynch's (Smithee's?) 1984, er, attempt. No more need for such drivel. Mind you, I was at first willing to dislike this project -- having seen some production stills, and not knowing what to make of it. Ah, folly of youth! A few hours on the couch with a preview copy have changed my mind. This is the good stuff, folks -- the reason we keep our TVs. The performances range from good to excellent; the cinematography is clean and in some cases downright exciting. Just about the whole book is here, a few judicious cuts notwithstanding, and Dr. Kynes looks like Marty Feldman, but that's OK, I don't mind. Stilgar spits on the floor, Princess Irulan wears some weird headgear and the ships, at last, do not look like the fender of a '57 Chevy. A well-crafted, lushly-visualized and breathtakingly-realized project. Not without its faults, though those are very few. If not merely satisfying, then outright amazing. Disappointment is unlikely. Good, good stuff. -- Rotwang!