Frank Herbert's "Dune" being remade?!

[_____V_____]

Aug 30, 2007


The Dune Novel Forums (http://www.dunenovels.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1204&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=180) via CHUD (http://chud.com/news/11622) hints that a remake - well, not really, since it's origins lie in literary form - of David Lynch’s cult-classic “Dune” could be in the works.

And no, Eraserhead’s pop won’t be calling the shots this time.

In January, one of the site’s head-honchos, Byron Merritt (he’s related to Frank Herbert) noted that they’re talking about getting a new movie off the ground.

“We're just in the talking stages, trying to hammer out an agreeable contract”, says a poster. “That takes time. More time than I ever imagined. Entertainment attorneys love to drag out these negotiations because they make big bucks (our's makes $600/hour). “It's all financial right now; how much they'll pay for the rights mostly. Once we sign over the rights, that's it, we won't have any (or at least much) say in who's cast, who directs, etc”, he said, adding that the film would be budgeted in the $100 million range.

Last week, he revealed that they’re very close to closing the deal.

“Although only rumor, I've heard that "someone" at the studio wants Dune reallllly bad and has been a fan of the novel for "years." They're not saying who this is (and it might just be hype) but I'm holding out hope that whoever this might be is a big enough fan that he/she will do the book justice. Supposedly it's some director.”

First of all, it may be as messy as a cat’s litter tray and a bitch to sit through in one sitting, but I like Lynch’s “Dune”. It’s not a no-brainer you can watch over and over again in the “Stakeout” or “Lost Boys” sense – but it’s definitely got its moments and is not without merit. For starters, the production design on the film is amazing. And the cast were terrific. Go read the IMDB listing for “Dune” and you’ll see what I mean – there’s at least ten good names in there. The film must have had something to attract them to it in the first place.

Thing is, Lynch should never have gotten to make “Dune”. It’s not his type of film. He’s a man with abstract and dissimilar tastes that doesn’t appeal to the masses. “Dune”, for all intents and purposes, is a family movie disguised as a science-fiction yarn. It’s the furthest thing from Lynch’s tastes and, well, capability. “Mulholland Drive”… now that’s classic Lynch. “Dune”… that’s what Lynch’s “Return of the Jedi” would’ve been like (true, he was offered the chance to direct “Jedi”). It’s an amazing car crash that you don’t want to look away from.

In recent years, they did “Dune” again as a TV mini-series. Tried watching it, but didn’t get into it. Heard that fans of Uncle Frank’s book were happy with the adaptation though.

I don’t know that “Dune” would be an easy film to make – I think it makes much more sense in paper form than it ever would on film. It’s a bit like a Tom Clancy novel – smart as shit, very detailed and totally gripping but adapt one of them into a movie and they suddenly become light and fluffy blockbusters with only a touch of depth. Some things are just difficult to not only condense but transfer.

And as the guys at CHUD reminds us, who the fuck would wanna greenlight a blue-balled project like “Dune”, something that’s going to take at least twelve months to do, in these frightening pre-strike times? Wouldn’t a Japanese anime version do just fine?




http://www.dunenovels.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1204&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=180

http://chud.com/news/11622

http://www.moviehole.net/news/20070830_one_for_the_lynch_mob.html

[Unaboner3000]

I loved the six original Dune novels of Frank Herbert. They aren't easy reading by any means (similar to Tolkien), but for those that appreciate extremely-deep works, the Dune novels are one of the finest examples.

I really hope that no more movies or mini-series are made of of Herbert's novels. They just don't work. You CAN NOT make a movie out of these books.
They will NEVER translate well to film.

[Disease]

Again!!!!!

[XtRaVa]

What isnt being remade these days? :rolleyes:

[Dante'sInferno]

Jesus tap dancing Christ...............








......

[missmacabre]

I hope to god that if they do this, they do it well.

[PhilnEdee]

Shit...maybe this one will be called DONE and there won't be anymore...I haven't enjoyed one single live action adaption of the novels...horrible.

[_____V_____]

March 17, 2008


Peter Berg is attached to direct a bigscreen adaptation 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 via his Par-based shingle.

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.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m151/noon78/20070831-Dune-Frank-Herbert.gif

Berg would be the latest helmer to take a crack at the property, which spawned a 1984 David Lynch film as well as a 2000 Sci Fi Channel miniseries 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.

New Amsterdam's Richard Rubenstein, who produced Sci Fi's "Dune" and sequel "Children of Dune," is also producing alongside Sarah Aubrey of Film 44, Berg's production banner. John Harrison and Mike Messina exec produce.

Paramount envisions the project as a tentpole film.

Berg and Misher enjoy strong ties dating back to Misher's executive days at Universal Pictures. Misher also produced Berg's second directorial outing, "The Rundown."

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

[The Mothman]

Lynch's version was a mess. hopefully this one will be better.

[urgeok2]

i really liked Lynch's take ..

but i'll welcome a faithful adaptation by Berg as well.. I love a lot of what he's directed so far.


for those that don't know Berg has a horror connection,

he was the kid persued by the badguy in Wes Craven's Shocker.

[_____V_____]

June 6, 2008


Paramount's big-budget version of Dune is rumbling into production, with Variety announcing the Studio has hired a writer to pen the adaptation of Frank Herbert's sci-fi classic.

Josh Zetumer is the lucky scribe tasked with bringing Dune to the big screen once more – he doesn't have a raft of credits on his CV but is currently working on Villain for 21929 Productions and The Infiltrator at Warner Bros.

Apparently, he also did production work on Bond's latest outing, Quantum of Solace.

Paramount suit Kevin Misher, along with Herbert's son Brian and author Kevin J. Anderson -- who co-wrote several additional entries in the Dune series after Herbert's death -- are on production duties, whilst The Kingdom director Peter Berg will direct.

[The_Return]

I've never read the actual book, but I thought Lynch's version was pretty cool. One of the strangest movies that I've ever seen, but still cool.

A more mainstream version could be half-decent, I guess. I'll have to read the book before I can pass judgment.

[neverending]

I heard an interview with Frank Herbert on the old Larry King radio show shortly after the Lynch version of Dune came out. He said the he and Lynch made an excellent, faithful adaptation of the book. It was 7 hours long. The studio cut it to hell.

I enjoyed the released version more than most critics and audience members did. There was a lot of excellnt material there.

However, like Urge, I won't mind seeing another version. Herbert really had a lot of input with Lynch though, so I don't see a new version having as much of Herbert's heart.

[Mr. Grady]

Love the book. Love Lynch's adaptation (would kill to have that whole 7 hrs of footage - full "director's cut" type version - not sure it exists). That said, I too would be willing to see another adaptation on screen...

[urgeok2]

(would kill to have that whole 7 hrs of footage - full "director's cut" type version ...


you and me both

[Shadow]

Love Herberts books atm.
Though I havent actually read Dune. Have watched the film and loved it. I now look forward to reading the book and watching the new film.

[novakru]

The Dune books are very dear to my heart.
I loved both versions and the TV sequel Children of Dune.

I'll give another director's vision a shot...why not:)

[_____V_____]

Most of you remember Dune as that great/sucky cheesefest that inexplicably came from David Lynch in the 1980s but luckily, if indirectly, led to Lynch and Kyle MacLachlan's teaming on the classic TV series Twin Peaks.

Oh, and there was also that Sci Fi Channel watchyacallit a few years back.

The implication here is that not nearly as many genre fans have read Frank Herbert's Dune novels as should be the case.

And with director Peter Berg now working up a new feature film version of the tale, there's even less reason to go back to the original source material, alas.

"I think I had a much more different experience, I think, with the book than David Lynch did," Berg recently told Sci Fi Wire. "To me, I think my interpretation will feel significantly different from that and the [Syfy] Channel miniseries that aired. I have a different experience than both of those filmmakers did."

Berg is looking at the story as more of an "epic adventure," apparently. And, some might say, surprisingly.

"[The book] was much more muscular and adventurous, more violent and possibly even a little bit more fun," Berg said. "I think those are all elements of my experience of the book that can be brought in without offending the die-hard fans of Bene Gesserit and Kwisatz Haderach. There's a more dynamic film to be made."

In case you were wondering who Bene Gesserit is, she's the Brazilian supermodel who Sting used to date.

[fuglystick]

I never read the books, and I thought the first go-round was a muddled mess. Any other interpretation is bound to be an improvement in my book.

[_____V_____]

Peter Berg's Dune adventure looks like it's being cut prematurely short as the director has left the new adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel.

According to Pajiba, Berg, who has been developing the project for a while, dropped out recently and the producers are now faced with looking for a replacement.

The top names at the moment? Apparently, it might be down to two men with similar names.

Paramount has sent the script to Neil Marshall and District 9's Neill Blomkamp, though neither has been in negotiations about the film yet.

Marshall is said to be the top choice for producer Kevin Misher, but Paramount's not quite as sold on him considering The Descent is his only real hit (what, no love for the superb Dog Soldiers?)

Blomkamp, meanwhile, is of course riding high on District 9's success, but with him having secured the funding for his follow-up sci-fi project elsewhere, choosing him might mean waiting a while.

Paramount has $175 million to throw around and a script by Bourne 4 writer Josh Zetumer to hand. What they really need is someone with a passion for the book.

[_____V_____]

Paramount Pictures has reportedly found a new director for its epic retelling of the sci-fi classic Dune.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the studio has tapped French filmmaker Pierre Morel (Taken, From Paris With Love) to replace Peter Berg, who dropped out last fall to direct Battleship instead.

"Paramount is currently looking for a new writer to incorporate Morel's vision of the project into the original draft by Quantum of Solace scribe Josh Zetumer," EW reports. "Morel plans to make a very faithful adaptation of the 1965 book by Frank Herbert."

EW adds that the project is a high priority for the studio.

[_____V_____]

Muad'dib has misplaced the Weirding Module, the sandworms are hibernating and the spice flow has slowed to a trickle: it seems all is not well on Paramount's new adaptation of Frank Herbert's epic sci-fi cornerstone Dune.

Deadline's story concerns itself with the increasing power of rights-holders in Hollywood, leading to a situation we've seen multiple times recently (especially with comics properties like Superman, Spider-Man and Ghost Rider) where a studio must get a film into production or lose its option entirely.

Paramount has been slowly developing Dune for four years now. Peter Berg (Welcome to the Jungle, Hancock) was attached to direct for a while before opting for Battleships, and last we heard Pierre Morel (Taken, From Paris With Love) was enthusiastically basking in the director's chair.

That no longer seems to be the case.

Paramount haven't cancelled the film, but they will lose it if they haven't set a production date in stone by next spring, and Deadline report that the studio is "going out to directors today", Morel is now described as an executive producer, which may simply be in recognition of his work with Chase Palmer on the current draft of the screenplay (Palmer was reportedly writing it according to Morel's particular specifications). So that explains why he'd be eyeing Ouija.

It's hard to imagine Paramount allowing a project as potentially massive as Dune to slip through their fingers. But with the colossal budget necessary, the dense complexity of the source material, the famous collapse of previous attempts (including ones by Alejandro Jodorowsky and Ridley Scott) and the (perhaps unfair) howls of derision at David Lynch's version still echoing almost thirty years on, the studio will be treading very carefully.