Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune (2003)

My Review

“Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune” continues the story of the Atreides family with the downfall of Emperor Paul Atreides and the rise of his twin children to the throne, as they strive to save humanity from destruction, which is spread throughout the galaxy. Teleplay author John Harrison and director Greg Yaitanes put together a high-quality sequel to the original “Frank Herbert’s Dune” (2000), adapted from the second and third Herbert novels “Dune Messiah” (1969) and “Children of Dune” (1976). They continued the quality production values for the second time around.

The cast includes Alec Newman as Paul, Julie Cox as Princess Irulan, Susan Sarandon as Princess Winsicia, Alice Krige as Lady Jessica, Edward Atterton as Duncan Idaho, Ian McNeice as Baron Harkonnen, Steven Berkoff as Stilgar, James McAvoy as Leto Atreides II, Jessica Brooks as Ghanima Atreides, Daniela Amavia as Alia Atreides, and Zuzana Geislerova as the Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam.

The watchable “Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune” is a fast moving four hour and twenty-six minute miniseries which was first aired on the SciFi Channel from March 16-26, 2003. It won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Visual Effects, and was nominated for three others – sound, makeup, and hairstyling. It was filmed in Prague, Czech Republic, with post production in Rome, Italy.