New Q & A

[Mahdi]

Director John Harrison has answered another Q & A about his Dune miniseries, (www.scifi.com/dune/) this one focusing on the Ornithopters.

"Q: Will the ornithopter be used in this production? If so what measures will be taken to ensure a realistic portrayal of such aircraft?

A: Creating the ornithopters has been one of my most difficult tasks during Dune. Kreka (our production designer) and I spent hours drawing and discussing what these vehicles looked like. Unfortunately, those of you who know the book well understand that Frank Herbert's descriptions tended more toward the poetic than the practical, and our challenge was to devise something that would seem aerodynamic and represent what he suggested at the same time. As I surveyed all the artists who have taken a shot over the years designing what they thought a 'thopter should look like, I realized there was no consensus to draw upon. But I would say on the whole we've succeeded. However, like so many things about Dune, imagination will differ from person to person and I expect there will be some in the audience who have "seen" the 'thopter in quite a different way. (But the one we have is way cool, nonetheless.)"

If you look at the latest trailer you can see what most likley are ornithopters firing lasguns. Are they what you pictured Ornithopters looking like?