"The Andromeda Strain" (2008) TV mini-series 2008-

Director:

Mikael Salomon

Writers:

Michael Crichton (novel)
Robert Schenkkan (teleplay)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

11 May 2008 (UK)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Tagline:

It's A Bad Day To Be Human.

Plot:

A crack team of top scientists work feverishly in a secret, state-of-the-art laboratory to discover what has killed the citizens of a small town and learn how this deadly contagion can be stopped.

Plot Keywords:

Scientist | Satellite | Military | Soldier | Virus

Awards:

Nominated for 6 Primetime Emmys. Another 7 nominations

Cast

Benjamin Bratt	...	Dr. Jeremy Stone (4 episodes, 2008)
Christa Miller	...	Dr. Angela Noyce (4 episodes, 2008)
Louis Ferreira	...	Colonel James C. Ferrus (4 episodes, 2008)
Ricky Schroder	...	Major Bill Keane MD (4 episodes, 2008)
Michal Suchánek	...	Lance Stone (4 episodes, 2008)
Eric McCormack	...	Jack Nash (4 episodes, 2008)
Daniel Dae Kim	...	Dr. Tsi Chou (4 episodes, 2008)
Barry Flatman	...	Charles 'Chuck' Beeter (4 episodes, 2008)
Ted Whittall	...	President William J. Scott (4 episodes, 2008)
Ted Atherton	...	Edward 'Ed' Dewitt (4 episodes, 2008)
Andre Braugher	...	General George W. Mancheck (4 episodes, 2008)
Roman Podhora	...	General Blair (4 episodes, 2008)
Viola Davis	...	Dr. Charlene Barton (3 episodes, 2008)
Anna Galvin	...	Lisa Stone (3 episodes, 2008)
Jonathan Potts	...	Pat Terrence (3 episodes, 2008)
Ava Salomon	...	Sarah Scott (3 episodes, 2008)
Emily Holmes	...	Joanne Scott (3 episodes, 2008)
Fred Keating	...	Charles Henderson (3 episodes, 2008)
Denise Galik	...	Annie Dillon (3 episodes, 2008)
Kurt Max Runte	...	Sherriff Martin Willis (3 episodes, 2008)
Cory Dagg	...	General Michaelson (3 episodes, 2008)
Juan Carlos Velis	...	Roach Coach Driver (2 episodes, 2008)
Adrian Holmes	...	Sam Barton (2 episodes, 2008)
Nicola Anderson	...	Lt. Amy Deacon (2 episodes, 2008)
Paul Perri	...	Dr. Smithson (2 episodes, 2008)
Eve Harlow	...	Leila (2 episodes, 2008)
Douglas O'Keeffe	...	Blonde Man / ... (2 episodes, 2008)

Series Directed by
Mikael Salomon		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Michael Crichton		(unknown episodes)
Robert Schenkkan		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Ron Binkowski	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
Clara George	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Malcolm Reeve	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
Mikael Salomon	....	co-executive producer (unknown episodes)
Ridley Scott	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Tony Scott	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Tom Thayer	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
David W. Zucker	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Joel J. Richard		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Jon Joffin		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Scott Vickrey		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Denise Chamian		(unknown episodes)
Scout Masterson		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Jerry Wanek		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Dan Hermansen		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Merlin Dervisevic		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Jenni Gullett		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Jill Bailey	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Ian C. Ballard	....	key hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Susan Boyd	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Lise Kuhr	....	additional makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Connie Parker	....	key makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Nicholas Podbrey	....	special effects makeup coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Julia Neville	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Haylee Hubscher	....	trainee assistant director (2 episodes, 2008)
Ken Shane	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 2008)
David Heimbecker	....	third assistant director (unknown episodes)
Kathy Houghton	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Janine Law	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Robert Leader	....	illustrator (4 episodes, 2008)
Leo Aza O'Leary	....	laborer (4 episodes, 2008)
Vicky Peters	....	set designer (4 episodes, 2008)
Liz Goldwyn	....	assistant art director (2 episodes, 2008)
Adrian Hrytzak	....	art department coordinator (2 episodes, 2008)
Catherine Leighton	....	prop assistant (unknown episodes, 2008)
Francisco Rosa	....	scenic painter (unknown episodes, 2008)
Perry Battista	....	lead set dresser (unknown episodes)
Josephine Bleuer	....	head greens (unknown episodes)
Laurie Dobbie	....	props buyer (unknown episodes)
Dean Eilertson	....	property master (unknown episodes)
Lee Anne Elaschuk	....	graphic artist (unknown episodes)
Doug Girling	....	assistant art director (unknown episodes)
Shannon Gottlieb	....	set buyer (unknown episodes)
Roger Jacoe	....	paint coordinator (unknown episodes)
Jason B. Landels	....	assistant property master (unknown episodes)
Jacques Larrue	....	on-set dresser (unknown episodes)
Colin Meacham	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)
Claudio Palavecino	....	on-set props (unknown episodes)
Kara Schwandt	....	assistant set decorator (unknown episodes)
Glenn Woodruff	....	construction coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Erich Gann	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes, 2008)
Bill Bell	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Stephane Bourgeault	....	sound assistant (unknown episodes)
Scott Cannizzaro	....	adr engineer (unknown episodes)
Tim Chilton	....	foley artist (unknown episodes)
Bob Costanza	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Mike Dickeson	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Kevin Fisher	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
G. Michael Graham	....	supervising sound editor (unknown episodes)
Devon Heffley Curry	....	supervising adr editor (unknown episodes)
Anton Holden	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Robert McDonagh	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
Sharon Michaels	....	foley artist (unknown episodes)
Terry O'Bright	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Daryl Powell	....	production sound (unknown episodes)
Keith Rogers	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Dean St. John	....	adr mixer (unknown episodes)
Richard S. Steele	....	sound designer (unknown episodes)
Tim Terusa	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
David Torres	....	foley mixer (unknown episodes)
Daniel Tripoli	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Tony Lazarowich	....	special effects coordinator (unknown episodes)
Dale Shippam	....	special effects technician (unknown episodes)
Robert Yeager	....	special effects technician (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Dennis Dallen	....	digital compositor (2 episodes, 2008)
Tomas Kalhous	....	digital compositor: UPP (2 episodes, 2008)
Vsevolod Korovin	....	digital compositor (2 episodes, 2008)
Vaclav Kostun	....	matchmove artist (2 episodes, 2008)
Tomas Munzar	....	digital compositor (2 episodes, 2008)
Peter Orlicky	....	digital compositor (2 episodes, 2008)
Michal Sverma	....	digital compositor (unknown episodes, 2008)
Patrik Bergman	....	digital effects artist (unknown episodes)
Ales Dlabac	....	CG artist (unknown episodes)
Jiri Forejt	....	digital compositor (unknown episodes)
Miro Gal	....	Inferno artist / visual effects on-set supervisor (unknown episodes)
Tomas Hajek	....	digital compositor (unknown episodes)
Lukas Herrmann	....	digital matte paint artist / screen designer (unknown episodes)
Jan Heusler	....	digital compositor (unknown episodes)
Pavel Kolar	....	visual effects artist (unknown episodes)
Vít Komrzý	....	visual effects producer (unknown episodes)
Jirí Linhart	....	digital effects artist (unknown episodes)
Robert Loudil	....	visual effects artist (unknown episodes)
Jana Macenauerova	....	digital compositor (unknown episodes)
Petr Masek	....	digital compositor (unknown episodes)
Michal Mocnak	....	digital compositor (unknown episodes)
Peter Nemec	....	Inferno artist (unknown episodes)
Vaclav Ondrousek	....	digital compositor (unknown episodes)
Robert Pik	....	Flame operator (unknown episodes)
Jiri Stamfest	....	matte artist (unknown episodes)
Frantisek Stepanek	....	visual effects (unknown episodes)
Petr Vcelicka	....	digital compositor (unknown episodes)
Jan Vseticek	....	visual effects coordinator (unknown episodes)
David Vána	....	visual effects supervisor (unknown episodes)
Vince Yoshida	....	prop builder (unknown episodes)
Lucie Zemanova	....	digital compositor (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Lloyd Adams	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Nick Allen	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Nicola Anderson	....	stunt performer (unknown episodes)
Guy Bews	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Dustin Brooks	....	stunt fire safety (unknown episodes)
Kim Honey Burnett	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Simon Burnett	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Yves Cameron	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Raymond Chan	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Alain Chanoine	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Douglas Chapman	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Laura Lee Connery	....	stunt driver (unknown episodes)
Brent Connolly	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Colin Decker	....	fire stunt assistant (unknown episodes)
Mike Desabrais	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Duane Dickinson	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jim Finkbeiner	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Alex Green	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Dave Hospes	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Carol Jackson	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Ken Kirzinger	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jon Kralt	....	stunt double: Rick Schroder (unknown episodes)
Cody Laudan	....	stunt double: Benjamin Bratt (unknown episodes)
Rick Pierce	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Clay Virtue	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Marshall Virtue	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Brent Woolsey	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Rusty Deluce	....	c camera first assistant (2 episodes, 2008)
Ray Wong	....	second unit: digital imaging technician (2 episodes, 2008)
Paul Akehurst	....	lightboard operator (unknown episodes)
Paul Arnel	....	grip (unknown episodes)
Reid Cohoon	....	dolly grip (unknown episodes)
Alexander Cooper	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (unknown episodes)
Jim Filippone	....	pilot: camera helicopter (unknown episodes)
Gareth Harrison	....	lamp operator (unknown episodes)
Russell Hawkes	....	dolly grip (unknown episodes)
Frederick Heartline	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Tim Heller	....	lighting technician (unknown episodes)
Gilbert Jamault	....	lamp operator (unknown episodes)
Simon Jori	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera (unknown episodes)
Dave Joshi	....	digital video assist operator (unknown episodes)
Mike Kolafa	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)
Alex Kuchera	....	grip (unknown episodes)
John Kuchera	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
David Kurvers	....	digital imaging technician: second unit (unknown episodes)
Ian R.C. Levine	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (unknown episodes)
Neil Macdonald	....	best boy electric (unknown episodes)
Steve Machan	....	grip (unknown episodes)
David McClung	....	lamp operator (unknown episodes)
Marty McInally	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Andrew McLeod	....	lighting technician (unknown episodes)
Ryan Monro	....	dolly grip (unknown episodes)
Sylvia Pranaitis	....	grip (unknown episodes)
Pascal Jean Provost	....	camera operator: "b" camera / cinematographer: second unit (unknown episodes)
Richard Sinclair	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera (unknown episodes)
Christian Stevens	....	camera trainee (unknown episodes)
Gordon Tait	....	grip (unknown episodes)
Jason Tidsbury	....	light balloon technician (unknown episodes)
Jasper Vrakking	....	digital imaging technician (unknown episodes)
Tom Waldman	....	generator operator (unknown episodes)
Gary J. Williams	....	second grip (unknown episodes)
Keith Woods	....	rigging gaffer (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Heike Brandstatter	....	casting: canada (unknown episodes)
Andrea Brown	....	extras casting / extras casting director (unknown episodes)
Joe Cappelletti	....	adr voice casting (unknown episodes)
Tiffany Mak	....	casting assistant (unknown episodes)
Coreen Mayrs	....	casting: canada (unknown episodes)
Chrissie Vides Alvarado	....	casting assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Luisa Dalmagro	....	costumer: preparation (unknown episodes)
Christopher Gilman	....	specialty costumes: Bio-Hazard suits (unknown episodes)
Kevin Knight	....	assistant costume designer (unknown episodes)
Paul Lavigne	....	wardrobe set supervisor (unknown episodes)
Clare McLaren	....	truck costumer (unknown episodes)
Karin Nosella	....	costume coordinator (unknown episodes)
Julie O'Rourke	....	costumer: prep (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Valance Eisleben	....	high definition editorial services (4 episodes, 2008)
Josh Beal	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)
Alex Durham	....	post-production assistant (unknown episodes)
Jessica Schulte	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)
Mike Sowa	....	digital color timer (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Joel J. Richard	....	score producer (2 episodes, 2008)
Bunny Andrews	....	music editor (unknown episodes)
Allison Wright Clark	....	score supervisor (unknown episodes)
P.J. Hanke	....	composer: additional music (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Blake Zickefoose	....	driver: Mr. Bratt (4 episodes, 2008)
Ian-Peter Jacobi	....	transportation (2 episodes, 2008)
Lawrence Albright	....	transportation co-captain (unknown episodes)
Tim Fortin	....	transportation coordinator (unknown episodes)
Mark Hoeppner	....	unit driver (unknown episodes)
Paul Irvine	....	transportation captain (unknown episodes)
Red Murphy	....	transportation coordinator (unknown episodes)
Barrie Poirier	....	transportation (unknown episodes)
Rick Rasmussen	....	picture car coordinator (unknown episodes)
Chad Urquhart	....	transportation co-captain (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Barbara Biddle	....	in-house producer (4 episodes, 2008)
Danny Ho	....	playback supervisor (4 episodes, 2008)
Melanie Callaghan	....	key production assistant (2 episodes, 2008)
Jason Crosby	....	marine coordinator (2 episodes, 2008)
Jason Sterman	....	assistant: Mr. Scott (2 episodes, 2008)
Tom Moran	....	executive assistant: Mr. Scott (unknown episodes, 2008)
Bob Bedard	....	head chef (unknown episodes)
Nick Bergstedt	....	prep assistant location manager (unknown episodes)
Ron Blecker	....	consultant (unknown episodes)
Marc Borja	....	assistant production accountant (unknown episodes)
Crystal Braunwarth	....	script coordinator (unknown episodes)
Amanda Bronswyk	....	first assistant accountant (unknown episodes)
Bruce L. Brownstein	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Kimberly Buckham	....	second assistant production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Zarah Chun	....	craft service (unknown episodes)
Penny Ann Hardage	....	assistant to producers (unknown episodes)
Rowan Harland	....	animal trainer (unknown episodes)
Shannon Harron	....	payroll accountant (unknown episodes)
Charles Heaphy	....	production financing (unknown episodes)
Patti Henderson	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Paul Jasper	....	animal coordinator (unknown episodes)
Bruce C. Jones	....	security coordinator (unknown episodes)
Marco Leone	....	assistant: Mr. Salomon (unknown episodes)
Flemming Lund	....	assistant location manager (unknown episodes)
Gina Marks	....	location scout (unknown episodes)
Nadine Moser	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Mary Ngo	....	accounting services (unknown episodes)
Darin Oishi	....	production accountant (unknown episodes)
Karen Pelrine	....	assistant production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Daniel A. Rosenthal	....	accounting services (unknown episodes)
Adrienne Sol	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Ryan Steacy	....	armorer (unknown episodes)
Kody Zimmermann	....	key office production assistant (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• A.S. Films
• Scott Free Productions
• Traveler's Rest Films

Distributors

• A&E Television Networks (2008) (USA) (TV)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2010) (Finland) (TV)
• RTL Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL5) (first national airing)
• Telekanal TV3 (2008) (Russia) (TV)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2008) (UK) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (2009) (Japan) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Universal Production Partners (UPP)

Other Companies

• Clairmont Camera  cameras and lenses
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Marshall/Plumb Research Associates  script research
• PS Production Services  production equipment
• Skip Film  titles
• Smart Post Sound  post sound services
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility
• Thompson-Nicola Film Commission  production services

Also Known As:

Runtime:

174 min | Norway:170 min (2 parts) | USA:180 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Australia:M | Norway:15 (TV rating) | Netherlands:16 | Netherlands:12 (TV version) | Finland:K-18 (self applied)

Filming Locations:

Ashcroft, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

A.S. Films

Trivia:

In the source novel by Michael Crichton, the main scientists were mainly white (presumably) heterosexual men, but Robert Schenkkan, who wrote the teleplay for this remake made the decision to change the characters' ethnicities, sexualities, and genders because, he said in a May 2008 interview with Brent Hartinger on afterelton.com, "If you're going to update the story, which is our mandate, you have an obligation to reflect the world as it is." Schenkkan further said that he decided to include the brief reference to Keene (Ricky Schroder) being gay because of a principle invented by Crichton in the original novel, the "Odd Man Hypothesis," which states that in a time of crisis, an unmarried, unattached person [Crichton specified a man] with no family to distract him would have the best chance of making rational, unbiased, unemotional decisions.

Goofs:

Continuity: The frame gets flipped in the scene where the soldiers drive the Humvee through town. As they start moving, you can see the steering wheel and engine "snorkel" on the left; but when they pass they ambulance, it has switched sides.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Jeff Megan:[to Suzie] That's a lion out there. And a triangle.

Movie Connections:

References Night of the Living Dead (1968)

It left me astonishingly depressed

I never cease to be amazed at how (a) multiple screenwriters can leave plot holes big enough to drive a truck (hell, a 747) through, and (b) a film company can spend $15M on a TV production and yet not spend a few thousand dollars on some bona-fide (not pseudo) scientific consulting to at least make the sci-fi plausible. Throwing together a haphazard technobabble bouillabaisse referencing every speculative idea that has appeared in Discovery Magazine or Scientific American in the last couple of years is no substitute for working out a solid plausible sci-fi extension of reality as a basis for the plot points. In the original novel, Crichton did it on spec as a grad student in medical school, for God's sake!! A weak effort at best, falling far short of the original movie.

What an utter waste of money and an embarrassment for the Scotts. If I were Michael, I would be furious, if I cared. I completely agree with the previous negative comments and remain depressed at how poorly this remake was executed. What a damned shame because an excellent opportunity was completely blown.