The renewed BBC–France Télévisions documentary returns in a new shape: two feature-length chapters that track young dinosaurs through high-stakes landscapes, guided by up-to-date research.
A reboot with teeth for Walking with Dinosaurs
France 2 is reviving the influential series originally launched in 1999 by Tim Haines and Jasper James. This time, the structure changes from six instalments to two 90-minute films. With fewer, longer chapters, the programme has room for extended behaviour arcs, larger action sequences, and more science integrated into the storytelling. In France, narration is provided by José Garcia, lending the updated edition a familiar, reassuring tone.
"Tonight at 9:10 p.m. on France 2: two feature-length films revisiting the Cretaceous with today’s science and high-end visual effects."
Visually, the production relies on contemporary digital craft to depict motion, skin detail, feathers, and water interaction with far more subtlety than was possible two decades ago. Viewers can expect more convincing muscle dynamics, lighting that feels truer to natural conditions, and habitats that look genuinely inhabited. The declared priority is straightforward: behaviour leads, spectacle follows.
Six young leads, six wild journeys
Rather than centring on adults, this version focuses on six juvenile dinosaurs, each dealing with threats shaped by its body plan and the environment it grows up in. That approach keeps the stories rooted in survival rather than hero-making. It also reflects palaeontology, where an animal’s growth stage can alter diet, mobility, and the risks it faces.
- Sobek the Spinosaurus: a hunter along river margins, marked by an immense sail and a strong preference for fish.
- Albie the Pachyrhinosaurus: a horned plant-eater with a tough nasal boss and pronounced herd instincts.
- Clover the Triceratops: a heavyweight herbivore equipped with three horns and a wide frill.
- Rose the Albertosaurus: a slimmer, quicker tyrannosaur built to chase.
- George the Gastonia: a low, armoured browser with defensive spikes and a measured stride.
- Grandé the Lusotitan: a long-necked giant from Iberia, always feeding and always on the move.
Their routes run from North African wetlands to Canadian woodlands and the Atlantic edge of Portugal. The weather is treated as a force in its own right: droughts tighten the pressure, floods redraw the ground rules, and small decisions can decide survival.
"Six youngsters, six strategies: forage smart, avoid bigger jaws, watch the weather, and don’t wander alone."
Who you’ll meet, where, and why it matters
| Dinosaur | Suggested setting | Main challenge |
|---|---|---|
| Spinosaurus | North African waterways | Catching fish in deep channels while steering clear of competitors |
| Pachyrhinosaurus | Boreal plains in Canada | Moving with the herd while predators apply constant pressure |
| Triceratops | Western North America | Standing its ground when confronted by large theropods |
| Albertosaurus | Floodplains and open woodland | Following prey efficiently without burning unnecessary energy |
| Gastonia | Arid to semi-arid scrub | Keeping armoured sides oriented towards threats |
| Lusotitan | Coastal Portugal | Securing steady forage and making crossings safely |
What about tyrannosaurus rex?
The marquee predator still pulls attention. Even so, it is not named among the six main youngsters. The programme’s promotion does, however, suggest a brief appearance. In North America, the Hell Creek Formation continues to produce exceptional fossils of both tyrannosaurus rex and triceratops. If Clover strays into exposed terrain, the tension is built in.
"Expect a nod to the apex predator of late Cretaceous North America, especially where triceratops herds graze."
Behind the imagery: science moves fast
Research has moved on considerably since 1999. New discoveries have altered our picture of spinosaurus, including tail features described as paddle-like, aligning with a semi-aquatic way of life. Ceratopsians, once portrayed as lone “tanks”, are now often interpreted as social animals with complex herd dynamics. Some theropods are thought to have carried feathers, at least when young. Work on melanosomes in fossilised feathers has also provided clues about colour patterning in certain lineages.
Animation teams weave these updates into both movement and atmosphere. Spines bend under strain, feathers react to gusts, and eye movement becomes more nuanced when a herd detects a stalking threat. These touches are not merely decorative; they place hypotheses under the constraint of physics.
What’s genuinely new for viewers
- The two extended films make it possible to show full seasonal change, so migration and nesting cycles can unfold on screen.
- Behavioural storylines draw on current research into growth stages and energy budgets.
- Narration by José Garcia in the French version aims to blend drama with explanation.
- The settings remain tied to fossil-rich regions associated with the featured species.
How to watch in France
Transmission is scheduled for Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 21:10 on France 2. The timing is geared towards family viewing while still treating the science seriously. France Télévisions typically offers catch-up access via its digital platform after broadcast; consult listings for availability periods and for accessibility features such as subtitles.
Tips for families and classrooms
Make the viewing feel like a small field lab. Ask children to record three behaviours per species and link each one to a survival advantage. During migration sequences, pause and discuss what might drive movement: temperature change, lack of water, or food shortage. Compare herd approaches between pachyrhinosaurus and triceratops: one relies on numbers and robust bosses, the other on horn reach and tight grouping.
For a practical activity, try a safe “trackway” experiment at home. Walk across damp sand wearing different shoes to imitate changes in toe spread and pressure. Lighter steps leave faint marks; heavier steps sink deeper, smear, and crack. The exercise helps show why fossil footprints can vary, and why palaeontologists often infer behaviour from tracks as well as bones.
Useful context before you press play
For narrative reasons, timelines may be blended. Lusotitan, for example, comes from the Late Jurassic rather than the Late Cretaceous. The production aims for habitat consistency, but occasional cross-era pairings may be used to keep the story moving. Treat those moments as opportunities to discuss the long sweep of the Mesozoic rather than as a strict chronology.
Keep in mind the tension between drama and evidence. Visual effects may imply speed and volume that skeletons alone cannot confirm. Focus on elements that can be tested: limb posture, bite mechanics, herd spacing, and nesting behaviour. Those aspects have strong fossil support; the remainder sits in informed imagination, which is valuable when clearly framed as such.
Why this revival lands now
Palaeontology is in an especially active period. Work in North Africa continues to refine our understanding of aquatic predators. New ceratopsian skull finds in Canada sharpen how we interpret horn development and social signalling. Climate modelling of ancient atmospheres helps situate droughts and storms in narratives that feel grounded. A modern Walking with Dinosaurs can draw on these advances and show how quickly knowledge changes when new tools and discoveries arrive.
"Walking with Dinosaurs returns with an eye on evidence, a grip on narrative, and a clear invite to ask better questions."
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