MovieChat Forums > Children of Dune (2003) Discussion > Did anyone else miss Saskia Reeves? 'Ca...

Did anyone else miss Saskia Reeves? 'Cause I did.

posted 13 years ago by mrtraska
9 replies | jump to latest

One of the things I really liked about the Sci-Fi Channel version of Dune was the casting of William Hurt as Duke Leto and Saskia Reeves as Jessica, especially Reeves. She was dead-on what I had imagined Jessica to be from the books, and they had great chemistry together -- you really saw that they were a couple. Alice Krige, however, was **badly** miscast in this follow-up. I know Krige has her fans and she's the go-to gal for fantasy and horror flicks, but she was a much better Borg Queen than she was as Jessica: wrong face, wrong demeanor, wrong reactions, just wrong, wrong, wrong.

Moreover, Reeves was an overall better fit with Alec Newman than Krige was (Krige and he don't look like they could EVER be related, in this universe of any other, and there was just no familial chemistry between them). I really liked Newman and Reeves together, though; I found them believable as mother and son. I imagine the casting director went with Krige because Reeves must have had other commitments, but wow, did I miss her presence in *this* miniseries. Just saying.

[–] Li-1 13 years ago

I absolutely agree with you. I loved Children of Dune and would rate it above the Dune miniseries (9/10 for CoD, 7.5/10 for Dune), but if there were two things that the original had the edge, it would be Saskia Reeves' warm, regal performance and Vittorio Storraro's vibrant, gorgeous cinematography. Krige comes across as too cold and distant, and I agree that Reeves' was sorely missed here. I might also have preferred the original Stilgar as well.

On the whole though, CoD had the superior acting. McAvoy was absolutely fantastic as Leto II, and Alec Newman was considerably better as Paul this time around.

[–] jcainea 13 years ago

Agreed, Saskia Reeves made the perfect Jessica. The only reason she didn't reprise her role in CoD was because, unfortunately, she was pregnant during filming. Alice Krige, although a fine actress just did not capture the regal spirit of Jessica in my opinion. I also liked the original Stillgar from Dune much better than the guy in CoD...this new one seemed too aristocratic or something. I can't exactly explain but he didn't seem like a Freman, unless Freman wore tights. lol

[–] Flight_of_Fantasy 13 years ago

Yeah, one of the only ways in which I feel the miniseries Dune was superior to Children of Dune is Saskia Reeves. I really did not like Alice Krige as Jessica the first time I watched CoD, but after multiple rewatchings I've come to... well, not like her, exactly, but accept her, whereas Saskia WAS Jessica.

"He's already attracted to her. Time and monotony will do the rest."

[–] darkstar-50 12 years ago

I wholeheartedly agree with this thread.
Also, I would've liked to have seen McAvoy's and Reeves' scenes together.
Krige was overshadowed by McAvoy too much to be a believable Jessica.

Overall I think the casting in Dune was better than in CoD.
Except Duncan Idaho, they one-upped the actor there. Of course, he only had a few short scenes in Dune so it's easy to replace him in your mind.

:Army of the Damned, prepare to board Heaven!

[–] orioncali 11 years ago

The director of the first Dune mini series always wanted Krige to be Jessica, and she was cast, I believe, but her part fell through after clashing with another project.

[–] ChazzJazz 10 years ago

well i guess a bene guesserit birth vessel was supposed to be cold and distant, i guess,

But saskia reeves played a motherly concupine from a lower class that melted with the common folks....

So yes, reeves and the Stilgar actor was sorely missed in the sequel CoD...

http://myimpressionz.tk

[–] bluefox01 10 years ago

I did, too. Although I liked Alice Krige too as Jessica. I haven't read the books, though.

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