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After Four Years Paramount is Giving Up on Adapting 'Dune' Again
by Ethan Anderton
March 22, 2011
Source: Deadline
It's been over fours years and directors like Peter Berg (Hancock) and Pierre Morel (Taken) have most recently attempted to get the adaptation off the ground, but Deadline reports that long gestating, new take on Frank Herbert's classic sci-fi novel Dune is now dead. Apparently Paramount Pictures and the book's rights holders have parted ways as one of the holders, Richard P. Rubenstein says, "Paramount’s option has expired and we couldn’t reach an agreement. I’m going to look at my options, and whether I wind up taking the script we developed in turnaround, or start over, I’m not sure yet.” Well, that sucks.
For those who don't know why sci-fi fans will be in mourning after this news, here's the book's official synopsis:
'Dune' tells the sweeping tale of a desert planet called Arrakis, the focus of an intricate power struggle in a byzantine interstellar empire. Arrakis is the sole source of Melange, the "spice of spices." Melange is necessary for interstellar travel and grants psychic powers and longevity, so whoever controls it wields great influence.
The troubles begin when stewardship of Arrakis is transferred by the Emperor from the Harkonnen Noble House to House Atreides. The Harkonnens don't want to give up their privilege, though, and through sabotage and treachery they cast young Duke Paul Atreides out into the planet's harsh environment to die. There he falls in with the Fremen, a tribe of desert dwellers who become the basis of the army with which he will reclaim what's rightfully his. Paul Atreides, though, is far more than just a usurped duke. He might be the end product of a very long-term genetic experiment designed to breed a super human; he might be a messiah. His struggle is at the center of a nexus of powerful people and events, and the repercussions will be felt throughout the Imperium.
Considering David Lynch's 1984 adaptation flopped, the book certainly is no easy animal to tame for the big screen. However, Rubenstein knows what he want's out of an adaptation. He says, “Since I know what I want, eventually, I’ll find someone who’ll agree with me. What I like is that talent has interesting things to say on how they would approach it." But he says, "Right now, Dune has no commitments or attachments.”
This is especiallysad considering Rubenstein and producer Kevin Misher liked what Pierre Morel did with Chase Palmer on the script. Apparently Paramount just couldn't bring themselves to fork over the $100 million price tag. I guess it's not that surprising since World War Z is also in jeopardy too. Bad news from that studio all around today I guess. Disappointed?
19 Comments
1
Epic, hard to get-right story? Give it to Peter Jackson. He'll do right by it.
Joel Crawford on Mar 22, 2011
2
He'd be the only one I'd trust...and I mean the only one.
Anonymous on Mar 22, 2011
3
Why do you say that? Did you forget so soon how much of a disaster LOTR series was?
Anonymous on Mar 22, 2011
4
I read your comment with the assumption you're using a sarcastic tone. That's the only way you could be serious.
Jackson on Mar 23, 2011
5
No sarcasm in my post.
Anonymous on Mar 23, 2011
6
Then your simply a moron, and didnt read the books at all.
Cody W. on Mar 23, 2011
7
So lets get this straight. You are a troll, since you decided to use personal attacks. You reference books, which shows that you refused to read my post. Have fun trolling in life.
Anonymous on Mar 23, 2011
8
David Lynch's version is epic and that's all there is to say about the subject.
David Perretta on Mar 22, 2011
9
I liked his movie, but after having just read the book again. That script couldn't have been more rushed. I think his heart was in the right place when he directed it and his attention to detail was impeccable. That being said it had holes. I realize they did all they could to squeeze it into an almost three hour film. I'm praying the movie GODS release a directors cut of DUNE, but I doubt that'll ever happen.
Anonymous on Mar 22, 2011
10
goddamn it.
Nick S. on Mar 23, 2011
11
Dune was an amazing movie, with an original style: space, technology, enchanting/magic. It will be hard to produce an adaptation better than the original. I hope they have competence to remake the film without mixing up it.
Robert Johnson on Mar 23, 2011
12
At the risk of getting slapped around (which I can handle....) I reckon that, if ever there was a movie that deserved being "George Lucassed", its David Lynch's "Dune". I loved the film but the terrible (by todays standards) special fx (complete with huge blue halos and poor motion control) takes you right out of the movie! Give it to someone and a few million for CGI and produce a Blu Ray version...I would buy it!
FOOM on Mar 23, 2011
13
But it's not just the visual effects that are sometimes lacking... how do you fix the bad acting? Digital faces?
spice on Mar 25, 2011
14
I'm kind of glad about this. The Sci-Fi miniseries got it right, and I'm not sure there could be an adaption that could hold a candle.
Philstar22 on Mar 23, 2011
15
Another one bites the dust.
Never Amsterdam on Mar 23, 2011
16
where is Ordos? (I know Dune from the game) The Noble Atreides The Insidious Ordos The Evil Harkonnen
R. Bambang Widiatmoko on Mar 25, 2011
17
sigh
A5J4DX on Nov 13, 2018
18
sigh
A5J4DX on Nov 13, 2018
19
^%!@*$&#!!!!!! SON OF A BITCH! I was looking forward to this too, even if it probably would have had Sam Worthington in it.
Stevebeer on Apr 3, 2011
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