El Cosmico here, there are a bunch of details around about the upcoming Sci-Fi Channel 6 part mini-series, produced by New Amsterdam Entertainment...DUNE! Here's a bit of a wrap-up of what's out there.

Okay, a basic run-down of the facts...the series is set to air in December of this year, 2000, the writer/director is John Harrison, who has also worked on "Profiler", "Kindred: The Embraced", "Earth 2", "Tales From the Crypt", and "Tales From the Darkside".

The mini-series will be a six-hour set, with William Hurt as Duke Leto Atreides, Giancarlo Giannini as the Emperor, Shaddam IV, Alec Newman as Paul Atreides (Alec comes from UK television), Matt Keeslar as Feyd, Ian McNeice as Baron Harkonnen, Barbara Kodetova as Chani, and Saskia Reeves as Jessica.

So far, the person attacked to this project who impresses me most is the cinematographer...none other than Vittorio Storaro, who has won THREE academy awards for his work, which includes that film that I could watch over and over in constant succession for the rest of time, Apocalypse Now. Also impressive is the all-important costume designer, Theodor Pistek, who won an oscar for Amadeus. One thing seems safe to say, this mini-series should LOOK excellent, which to me is half the battle.

The official website will launch in June of this year, and I'll let you guys know when it gets up, but in the mean time, the Sci-Fi Channel ALREADY has a bunch of yummy photos and info that you really ought to check out. The more I hear about this series, the more I'm dying to see it. I think you'll agree.

Here are the relevant links for info:

• Official Sci-Fi Channel Dune Website
• New Amsterdam Entertainment
• Official Dune Website

-El Cosmico

mail me at: elcosmico@austin.rr.com