Walking with Dinosaurs reboot (BBC/PBS)

[starsteam]

https://deadline.com/2024/06/walking...rs-1235958452/

The BBC and PBS are stomping back to Walking with Dinosaurs after 25 years.

The returning series, which is being co-produced with ZDF and France Télévisions, will land in 2025 and has already entered production.

The original series was a huge step for natural history. It was narrated by Kenneth Branagh in the UK and Avery Brooks in the U.S., where it aired on the Discovery Channel.
The reimagining will tell the dramatic story of an individual dinosaur each episode whose remains are currently being unearthed by the world’s leading dinosaur hunters. Thanks to cutting-edge science, experts will reveal how these prehistoric creatures lived, hunted, fought and died more accurately than ever before, utilizing state-of-the-art visual effects. Species will include a Spinosaurus – the largest carnivorous dinosaur to ever walk the earth – roaming the rivers of ancient Morocco; a youthful Triceratops battling a ravenous T. rex in North America; and a lonely giant Lusotitan risking it all for love in Portugal.

Jack Bootle BBC Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual said: “A whole new generation of viewers is about to fall in love with Walking with Dinosaurs. The original series was one of the most exciting factual shows of all time, and this reinvention builds on that amazing legacy. Each episode is underpinned by the very latest science but is also filled with drama – making this a series for both dino lovers and people who just want to be told a great story.”

“Our human fascination with dinosaurs has remained steadfast, and we are excited to bring PBS audiences this reimagined perspective on these dynamic creatures, combining engaging narratives, backed by the latest science,” added Sylvia Bugg, PBS Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, General Audience Programming.

Walking with Dinosaurs was commissioned by Bootle. Bill Gardner is Editorial Consultant for PBS. Diana El-Osta is the Executive in Charge for PBS. It is a BBC Studios Science Unit Production co-produced with ZDF and France Télévisions for BBC and PBS. EPs are Andrew Cohen and Helen Thomas; the showrunner is Kirsty Wilson; the Producer/Directors are Stephen Cooter; Tom Hewitson and Owen Gower; and the line producers are Max Brunold and Libby Hand. The BBC commissioning editor is Tom Coveney.

The original was a huge part of my childhood. Though frankly I saw Prehistoric Planet as being the modern equivalent of WWD, but I'm up to see a return to the original's format.

[Lemmy Lugosi]

As a paleontology buff for nearly sixty years, I am delighted with this news.

[Michael1989]

We can never have too many dinosaurs. I remember the original from well over 20 years ago now.

[dinosauriac]

Preorder for the blu ray is live! I hoped they would release it, but after Prehistoric Planet failed to materialize I wasn't sure...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F7XRJQ...hk_typ_imgToDp

The production values are on very different levels between the two, no UHD release seems to be available as yet and it's likely the show was done in 2K to begin with due to the lower budget. Regardless, super excited to own this and that it seems to have a bonus disc!

[MrChristoph]

Originally Posted by dinosauriac

super excited to own this and that it seems to have a bonus disc!

I don't think that this will necessarily include any extras. The series will need two discs because it's about five hours long (6x50 minutes). The back cover of the US release doesn't mention an any extras:

[Show spoiler]

[TrueGent10]

Are they ever going to release the original series from 1999?

[MrChristoph]

Originally Posted by TrueGent10

Are they ever going to release the original series from 1999?

Probably not, sadly (outside of the Japanese release that tied in to the movie). If they had any plans to release a Blu-ray in the UK, then they'd surely be selling a bundle with the new one á la Blue Planet: The Collection. I would have thought that the only hope now would be if the 2025 series massively over-performs on disc.

FWIW, the Japanese release is region free and defaults to English with non-forced Japanese subtitles. It's a fairly strong upscale aside from the odd deinterlacing hiccup, although unfortunately the narration is a little croaky due to 24fps slowdown. Apparently it can be imported for £10-15 if you use a forwarding service.

[TrueGent10]

was it possible that it was done on SD since I'm guessing the CGI was probably rendered at SD?

[MrChristoph]

Yeah, the original 1999 series was clearly shot on film and edited in PAL SD. On older copies you can even see the dinosaurs (and foreground objects) poking into the horizontal blanking area. Nevertheless, the upscale is a marked improvement compared to the UK DVD and remastered American DVD from the same time.

[AndonSage]

Originally Posted by TrueGent10

Are they ever going to release the original series from 1999?

You can find Walking With Dinosaurs (DVD) with this Ultimate Dinosaur Collection: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000UPMZ44