Script Almost Complete On ‘Dune’ Reboot
A new feature film based on Frank Herbert’s 1965 sci fi novel Dune may be just around the corner.
You may wonder why studios would consider making a new Dune film after David Lynch’s attempt in 1984 was such a monumental box office flop. The long answer would probably include reference to the Sci Fi Channel’s Emmy award winning Children of Dune mini-series – but the short answer would simply be “Peter Berg”.
Although the new Dune has yet to receive the green-light, Peter Berg is attached to the project as Director. Berg’s superhero flick Hancock (with Will Smith) was a Box Office smash, raking in $624M worldwide. It goes without saying that film studio’s have a truck load more confidence in someone who recently helmed a film that is now the 38th highest grossing film of all time.
Dune was announced more than a year ago but we haven’t heard much since then. That is, until yesterday when i09 posted an interview with Dune producer Kevin Misher.
Misher told i09 that Dune is a reboot rather than a remake, and confirmed that they are presently working on moving ahead in the near future.
“We’re working on the script right now. We’re going to turn it in shortly. The script is coming in, we’re hoping to get a green light shortly,” Misher said.
Despite the fact that the last collaboration between Kevin Misher and Peter Berg was also a box office flop (The Rundown), we tend to think that if the script is a good one, Berg’s success on Hancock should almost guarantee his production company ‘Film 44′ will get a nod from Paramount to move forward on Dune.
April 22nd, 2009 at 10:46 pm
I for one liked the original version better than the SciFi Channel miniseries… though that might have more to do with it being one of the first science fiction movies I watched with my dad when he was introducing me to the genre.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Truth is the original movie was a box office flop and was received poorly by reviewers – back in the day. But, since then, it has sort of grown to be loved by many people. So yes, a little bit of its present ‘cult status’ would also be a factor. But that and other reasons would have become the ‘long answer’ that I was trying to avoid lol.
April 23rd, 2009 at 2:45 am
oh man. i know well how dissed the ‘84 Dune was. but i really hoped that no one would load it on the re-make or ‘reboot’ train. as a huge fan of the novels, there is a mysterious subtext that i think Lynch just nailed and i thought the mini-series missed. additionally the ‘vibe’ for lack of a better word is just so unique in Lynch’s, no one has ever or since made a sci-fi film like it and it’s a shame to have it swept under the rug again, after a massive studio butcher and a sub par television adaptation. the books are unique and they deserve better than just another ‘chronicles of riddick’ or (ungh!) ‘hancock’. please people- someone have an idea of their own and stop reselling me my culture.
April 23rd, 2009 at 2:48 am
(sorry for the p.s. but) AND a score by TOTO and a Brian Eno piece? the talent in the ‘84 version?
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:24 am
Glad you mentioned that. Personally I really loved the score to Dune by Toto – back in the 80’s I must have listened to it a thousand time. Also, the score to Children of Dune by Brian Tyler is also great – so great that a lot of people flipped out over it (not realizing where it came from) when it was used in a trailer for J.J. Abrams’ upcoming Star Trek.
August 23rd, 2009 at 11:29 pm
I would be glad to have another vision of Dune on the screen. I have repeatedly enjoyed the the Lynch and Harrison versions. Dune is a science fiction classic, the messages within the story remain relevant. Bob Ringwood’s costumes were superior to the Sci Fi Channel’s costumes. James McAvoy was an awesome Leto the II.