Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Movie Remake Fever (2): Another Dune


David Lynch's sprawling sci-fi flick Dune, intriguingly photographed and ambitious if overlong and convoluted, was given a mostly lukewarm reception by critics upon its release in 1984, and died at the box office.

The film, adapted from Frank Herbert's book of the same name, the most popular sci-fi novel in history, and featuring the likes of Kyle McLachlan, Brad Dourif, Max von Sydow and Sting, became an expensive failure for both director and studio.

"Dune" was reborn in 2000, as a three-part, six-hour miniseries on the Sci Fi Channel, with a cast including William Hurt.

Third time's a charm? Herbert's 1969 novel is coming back to the big screen, with a film adaptation helmed by French director Pierre Morel, responsible for violent blockbuster Taken.

The screenplay reportedly is by rookie Joshua Zetumer, who contributed to the Quantum of Solace script. Peter Berg (Hancock), who was said to have worked on an early version of the new screenplay, was originally set to direct.

In October, FilmShaft reported that "New Moon" teen heartthrob Robert Pattinson was being considered for the lead role in the new "Dune."

For more about other, failed attempts to adapt "Dune," including a once planned 10-hour miniseries with Orson Welles and others, check out Ben Child's story in the Guardian (UK).

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