Dune is up for an adaptation – again

Posted on March 18, 2008
Filed Under Actors, Directors

To make it easier for you, my readers, I  have this concept I like to pull out of my sleeve. Sometimes it’s horror-week or maybe remake-bonanza. I just pick a theme and just try to give you as much news I can, based on that theme, genre or actor. This is not an exact science mind you. It’s a creative process… (Did you buy that?) Anyway, it seems as if this week is adaptation week. At least so far…

Variety reports that Peter Berg is attached to direct a bigscreen adaptation (told you) of Frank Herbert’s classic sci-fi novel “Dune” for Paramount Pictures. Kevin Misher, who spent the past year obtaining the book rights from the Herbert estate, will produce.

Herbert’s 1965 novel is a sweeping, futuristic tale set on the remote desert planet Arrakis, which produces the interstellar empire’s sole source of the spice Melange — used for distant space travel. An empirewide power struggle ensues over the control of the spice. Berg would be the latest helmer to take a crack at the property, which spawned a 1984 David Lynch film, a video game in 1992 and a Sci Fi Channel miniseries in 2000, starring William Hurt.

The project is out to writers, with the producers looking for a faithful adaptation of the Hugo- and Nebula Award-winning book. The filmmakers consider its theme of finite ecological resources particularly timely.

Actor-turned-helmer Berg most recently directed the upcoming Will Smith starrer “Hancock.” His directing credits include “The Kingdom” and “Friday Night Lights.”

Ok, so there you have it. This weeks second adaptation. More to come!

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