Ladies and gentlemen, the next huge sci-fi franchise has a director. During an interview with “The Kingdom” director Peter Berg, he confirmed the rumor that “Dune” is coming and that he’s the one that will helm it. Calling the plans for him to direct “a done deal,” Berg told me that “if it weren’t for the writer’s strike, we’d be in it right now.”
Berg says that while there’s no script yet, they have a list of writers they plan to go out to once the strike settles. The helmer called himself “a huge fan of the book” and when asked about the scale of the film, he simply replied, “big big big.”
As any fan of the Frank Herbert classic knows, “Dune” received the big screen treatment once before in a divisive David Lynch film. Berg said that while he’s “a big fan of Lynch,” he believes “that interpretation has left the door wide open for a remake.”
Meanwhile, Berg also confirmed that even before “Dune,” he’s likely to direct Tom Cruise in his next film. Berg called the script about a CIA agent on the run after being accused of being a spy “great” and “a great role for Tom.”
Berg described the story as an “action thriller” and that “the audience is trying to figure out whether this character is good or bad. He’s claiming one thing and we’re not sure up until the very end.”
When asked if he’s met with Cruise himself yet, Berg said “we’ve been talking.”
December 21st, 2007 at 5:26 pm
David Lynch’s was not the only version of Dune on film. The Sci-Fi channel aired a mini-series about five or six, with follow-ups with Dune Messiah and Children of Dune. All of these versions are very fine film-making and I cannot believe that anyone is going to outdo them with another film adaption. I would still go see another Dune movie, because I am a huge fan of the novels and their depth, but… I will remain skeptical about the quality until I see it with my own eyes!
December 21st, 2007 at 6:32 pm
I’m all for this, but maybe that’s because I still haven’t read Dune and I never watched Lynch’s version (although from most fans of the book, I hear it’s a pretty crappy adaptation).
Berg is a solid filmmaker and I think his best work is yet to come. Maybe this will be it?
December 21st, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Although Lynch’s version of Dune was great visually (great props and superb costumes) and most of the casting was spot-on, it just couldn’t be long enough to accommodate the rather sprawling story, even if Lynch was given free reign.
The miniseries got the Fremen life right with the cloaks, the pissy attitude, et al. Forget the secret sound weapons, they actually seemed dangerous on their own merits!
But with the exception of the great sets and attention to detail the mini-series gave the book’s details, a lot of the casting and many of the god-awful costumes made it pretty unsatisfying. The Bene Gesserit’s outfits made Kaitain look like Oz’s Emerald City circa 1910!
I’m hoping that some of the flavor of the first one can at least be given a nod to.
Mark T.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:11 pm
The Lynchian Dune kinda sucked, and in about 10,000 years we MIGHT get the full version, despite Lynch himself saying he put out that “Director’s Cut” - and it will probably still suck a bit.
Good intentions mean NOTHING.
Bleah.
Didn’t we get a “CIA guy who might be a mole or something on the run” movie already about 20 years ago called “No Way Out” with Kevin Costner and a somewhat naked Sean Young?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093640/
See for yourself all that is Tom Cruise’s mediocrity!
Even Xenu can’t help this little guy out of the closet!
December 22nd, 2007 at 12:03 am
Sadly, the greatest version of Dune was never done…
Alexandro Jodorowsky came very close to doing it back in the early 1970’s with an unbelievable cast and crew…
He had lined up Salvador Dali to play the Emperor, Pink Floyd had agreed to do a double album soundtrack and H.R. Giger had signed up to do the sets…
Read this and weep:
http://www.hotweird.com/jodorowsky/dunestory.html
December 22nd, 2007 at 11:38 am
The Dune books are fantastic.
The Lynch movie is just OK.
The Sci-fi mini-series was excellent on many levels and will be hard to match. I thin that Dune fans will compare any new movie to the Mini -series, not the Lynch movie.
Compressing such a dense story into a 2 - 3 hour format doesnt work. Which is why the mini series worked and huge part of why Lynch’s version didnt.
I will remain sceptical until I get a chance to see it myself, but I am excitted.
December 22nd, 2007 at 5:57 pm
I’ve weeped many days over the jodorowsky Dune. Hey Berg, I’m not a member of the writers guild so I could start working on the Dune script right away, and for very little pay.
December 22nd, 2007 at 8:12 pm
This is totally unnecessary. Between the Lynch film which, despite some very poor choices (constant voiceovers and weirding modules) and the Sci Fi miniseries (better adaptation, but on a bit of a shoestring) I think Dune has been sufficiently covered. If there is one thing that these two adaptations showed us, it is that Dune cannot be done in a movie format, but needs the 6+ hours that a miniseries format allows in order to truly tell the story. Messiah translated fairly well in a shorter format, but from there the books become increasingly complicated. Children of Dune worked (with some revisionism), and God Empereor could be done, though there is a slim margin of error on that one. Heretics and Chapterhouse are so inscrutable that I cannot imagine a successful transition to film, and the various prequels and sequels seem to pale in comparison to the originals.
Long story short, I love the series, but can’t imagine an adaptation in anything other than a miniseries format.
I stand in solidarity with the WGA.
December 22nd, 2007 at 8:29 pm
I have no desire to watch the smirking dwarf Scientologist in anything short of a body bag. And speaking of short, he is. Some action hero.
December 22nd, 2007 at 9:18 pm
So this clown “director” is going to show what a thoroughly useless douchebag ?~~ he is by working with tommyboy cruise before butchering Dune?
Remakes don’t work.
Period.
December 23rd, 2007 at 2:38 pm
I don’t really know what to think about a new Dune…I was never really into it, and they’ve already have the ‘wacked-out David Lynch version’ and the ‘cheapo cable tv miniseries’. Is there much more to really say about Dune?
December 23rd, 2007 at 8:09 pm
I for one would like to be the first to welcome our Dune loving overlords.
December 24th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
So they will wow us with new special effects….That’s not a good enough reason for a remake. Bleh!!
December 24th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Berg had better be a secretly awesome director. I liked Friday Night Lights, but he’s going to need to transform into a freaking visionary if he wants to even come close to adapting this Sci-Fi opus for the big screen. I haven’t actually seen it, but it sure didn’t look like The Kingdom showed any nuance at all. I hope Berg knows that he’s holding the greatest of all Sci-Fi novels in his jittery camera-shaking hands. And yes, there is a great deal of rrom for improvement. The Lynch version sucked, the SciFi series had moments, but suffered from low-budget production and bad acting. There needs to be a version to rule them all and truly treat Dune like the masterful vision of the future of religion and politics that it is.
“God created Arrakis to train the faithful.”
December 24th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
I’m all for a new theatrically released Dune. Let;s face it: Sci-fi miniseries while good, aren;t going to be seen by as many people as a knock em sock em movie would be. What I don’t want is another GOlden Compass on our hands. From what I’ve seen of the Kingdom, Berg has the balls to pull this off unlike Weitz and the compass. Here’s to the Golden Path.
December 25th, 2007 at 9:19 am
I am extremely apprehensive about this news - there is only one director I would trust with Dune, and that’s Ridley Scott. He has the vision and the attention to detail to make a true epic, PROVIDED he is given the best script possible (the man doesn’t have a perfect record for filmmaking - but when he’s good, GOD is he good!). I love both the Lynch and SciFi versions, both have their flaws and both have their good points, and both should be honoured in any future version. But first and foremost the BOOK should be honoured. Any new adaptation needs the right set of hands on the helm, and I think should involve David Lynch and John Harrison as creative consultants too IMHO. Also, a trilogy of 2-3 hour films, ala LOTR, would be needed to really do the first book justice. But does anyone see any of this happening? Not with this guy Berg in charge - but then I could be surprised - who would have thought that Peter Jackson would go on from Bad Taste, Braindead and The Frighteners to make LOTR?
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Have to agree w/ Stile4aly. Why? And Peter Berg? What would give anyone the idea that he could direct something as cerebral and fantastic as Dune? He was in a Wes Craven movie? Should not be attempted. If anything, make God Emperor on the Sci-fi Channel. The adaptations were better than Lynch, and like Stile says, that’s the last book that can be comprehended by us mere mortals. Herbert’s son co-wrote some more books, but it smacked a little of cashin in-not worthy.
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:21 pm
More sand?
January 4th, 2008 at 11:06 am
The Dune move was perfect as far as sets, costumes, casting, camera work, cinematography and theme music was concerned; even the end credits were beautiful.
The time limit of the movie, the changes to the story with the silly Weirding modules, the mind reading wiches and the rain at the end were all daft. Dune is a beautiful movie and best seen as a visual treat for those who have enjoyed the book. Even Frank Herbert himself said that the look of the film captures exactly what he saw in his head.
The movie was doomed to be less than the sum of its parts though. How could all the facets of Dune have been caught in a two hour movie? Of course it was gonna suck on the whole.
The mini serries, although having more time, suffered from ghastly sets and even worse casting and acting. It came across as a cheap space opera. At least the movie had gravitas.
I saw ‘The Kingdom’ and although i was impressed by the frenetic action and especially the fight scene with Jen Garner, i didn’t really see the tallent needed to create a new Dune movie. I think Joe Write, or that Spanish guy who did the Harry potter movie would be better.
January 5th, 2008 at 1:11 am
If anyone has read Dune they wouldn’t question why this book needs to be turned into a movie to do the work justice. Not only is the story line enthralling there are also many modern issue undertones especially about the transition from a world of seemingly endless abundance to a land where every last morsel of moisture must be utilized.
On a personal note I would really like to know when they are casting. Especially since Peter Berg is the director. I think Tom Cruise would make a great Duke. I have been told that I look like a young, more refined (or as Dune might, say rounder features ) than Tom Cruise. I would do every bit of justice to this role. I understand the need for a strong philosophical leader in a movie and that is certainly something that I am interested in playing. Some may see this as pompous. On the contrary, I mention this because Dune is one of the most important books I have ever read and I don’t see anyone in Hollywood doing the character justice.
If I had to choose one role to play during this life time it would be as Paul and I know that if I got the role I would dedicate every last bit of myself to the part.
Think what you may about Tom Cruise, I feel that he plays an important role as an archetypal character in our cultural conscience. If you look at the role of the Duke it is perfectly suited for his sharp looks his determination that is his strength but this also bring a level of naivety in the name of honor that ultimately brings down the Duke.
January 5th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Why make another remake of Dune???? Why not make a film on one of the others Dune books? There are several….
January 14th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Im so happy!!!!! I love the idea!! Tom cruise? How can they find another Faith like sting?
January 15th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Tom Cruise i hate him i think he is sooo outdated and will ruin any epic like Dune, anyway Dunes been done why not a follow up book of Frank Herbert, not the ones wrote by his son and Kevin Anderson, they arnt that good.
January 15th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Why another Dune? Because it hasn’t been done right yet!
And read the article…Tom Cruise is not in Dune. He’s in another movie Berg is working on.
And its Feyd…not Faith.
And lastly, yes, the new books are all horrible on so many levels, it would be a waste of time to list them.
January 16th, 2008 at 5:46 am
I like the idea but I think Ridley Scott is the only director ,who could make this classic book into a classic movie.
January 17th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
I’m just going to post this here since MTV Movies is the designated producer for this galactic gamble afaik.
A few months back I had a mind to stir up some interest in a Dune revival, which might be able to say something about modern Arab/Muslim relations to the West in particular, and on some level parallel contemporary mideast geopolitics.
I thought Jack Shaheen would make a splendid spokesperson and at the least the David Lynch Foundation might have an open ear as long as there was liberal peace and trascendental meditation somewhere in the mix.
In any case, I’m glad to see there is still interest in Dune. I think maybe the new Star Wars films have dashed a lot of people’s fanatical energies and they are probably searching for the new stuff of their galactic fantasies — Dune seems as primed as ever for unfettered merchandising.
Finally, all I have to add here atm is I hope the studio might consider Louis Garrel for the role of Paul Atreides.
Also here is a quick and rough concept doodle I once whipped out of curiosity for FH’s stillsuit and some bonus takes on Paul and Duncan:
http://users.wildblue.net/arcadia/Fremen.jpg
http://users.wildblue.net/arcadia/Muad‘Dib.jpg
http://users.wildblue.net/arcadia/Duncan%20Idaho.jpg
If anyone wants to get in touch I’m pretty tied up atm, but I wouldn’t pass up the chance to try save Dune from the fate of the dreaded contemporary Hollywood stinker. Unlike Lucas I know the stuff of timeless cinema that will pay out for centuries to come. So why not give me a ring Mtv.
legal disclaimer: Fill free to use any of this post however you like.
January 19th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
I like Tom Cruise as an actor but he would be TOTALLY wrong for the role of Paul, not the least of which is his age!!! he is WAY to old to play Paul!!!!!!!!! Not to mention that his acting style (IMO) is NOT right for the role as well!!! Maybe Joseph Gordon-Levitt or Shia LaBeouf in the role of Paul would be better at least they are of a an age to play Paul Atreides who is described as YOUNG!!! Something to think about!
January 25th, 2008 at 12:23 am
All I ask is that they keep the Atreides weireding modules. I liked the Scifi Channel mini-series Frank Herbert’s Dune and Children of Dune but, I was disappointed in their interpretation of the weirding way.
January 29th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
word to your revrend mother!!im a little upset
to hear that the new books arnt that great
(seeing as i havent got the chance to read them yet)but i would do backflips if they made a new dune movie..
January 31st, 2008 at 2:35 pm
John Glover DEFINETLY BE duke atreides when i read the book i see this guy as the father for sure just look at a picture of him and you will say yes this guy is FIng duke leto atreidies I swear to god you couldnt find a better guy to play the part…atreides = hawk this guy has the visage of a hawk, if you cast him as the part I will see the movie otherwhys i havent much trust in hollywood. John Glover John Glover John Glover John Glover John Glover John Glover John Glover John Glover
February 2nd, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Please. I want same toto’s Dune Soundtrack for Peter Berg’s new Dune Film
February 2nd, 2008 at 10:25 pm
I’ve been wishing for years that the sci-fi channel would have done the rest of the series after they stopped with Children of Dune, upon realizing that cheap crappy reality shows like ‘Ghost Hunters’ were more cost-efficient than a big-budget miniseries. If a new Dune movie makes enough money at the box office, which if done right is certainly possible, maybe we could see the whole series become adapted to the screen. Despite what some people here say, I really loved reading the sequels written by Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson, at times even more than Frank’s last couple books (there I said it!) and would love to see them on the big screen.
BUT PLEASE NO TOM CRUISE!!!
February 3rd, 2008 at 2:20 am
People–read the article. Tom Cruise is acting in a different upcoming film by the same director, not Dune.
As for a new interpretation of Dune, I agree with whoever said Shia LeBoeuf could do it, though I see him as more second generation. What about James McAvoy? I really want to get to the rest of the series. I think the Sci-Fi channel did a great job with the Children. The series just gets more interesting as you go through. I would love to see the last two books made. There are very few sci-fi films out there that deal with women in power roles.
February 3rd, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Next dune movie must have the same dune 1984 soundtrack
February 4th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
How about this?? jennifer anisten as the lady jessica, gerard butler as ducan idaho
Jennifer has those beutiful oval fetures with the golden brown hair,gerard butler with the dark burly features..
February 14th, 2008 at 4:12 am
1. Ridley Scott as Director
2. 1984 Dune Soundtrack for the new movie
3. Gerard Butler as Duke Leto
4. Daniel Craig as Duncan Idaho
5. Cate Blanchett as Lady Jessica
February 15th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
The Toto/Eno soundtrack was breathtaking but I don’t think that it should be re-used. It belongs to Lynch’s version.
I think that Boards of Canada would be a fantastic choice. Listen to their song ‘Mansel’ and ‘Roygbiv’ and you’ll get the idea. Epic, haunting, futuristic, desert music.
Here’s some ideas for the cast:
Duke Leto - Liam Neeson / John Glover (big up nate)
Paul Atredies - Gael Garcia Bernal
Thufir Hawatt - Tom Wilkinson
Gurney Hallek - Michael Gambon
Stilgar - Jean Reno
Dr Yueh - Ian Holm
Duncan Idaho - Sean Bean
Baron Harkonnen - Gene Hackman (in make-up)
Feyd Rautha Harkonnen - Paul Bettany / Joaquin Phoenix
Rabban Harkonnen - Javier Bardem
Shaddam IV - Christopher Lee
Lady Jessica - Julianne Moore
Gaius Helen Mohiam - Tilda Swinton/ Ellen Burstyn
Chani - Emmanuelle Béart
OK, rant over.
February 17th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Dune is too big and hollywood is too small. Always the same boring actors, the same boring recipes, the same boring tricks, and the result is that cinemas are becoming more and more empty, and instead of finally taking more risks and starting to innovate, hollywood relies even more on quick fixes, simple and stupid plots and all the stuff that we’ve already seen too much of.
So say what you will, Lynch’s version, flawed though it was, was innovative, superbly acted (with a few crass exceptions) and expertly filmed, and it did break the boring canon of scifi flicks.
What i’d love to see is someone who dares put down the big bucks and hire a complete cast of dramatic actors we’ve never seen before, cut us some slack with cheap cgi effects (bladerunner was a perfect film and it didn’t use all that crap) and focus on the plot and .. surprise us .. for once.
And Dali as the Emperor.. now that would have been something.
February 18th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I think they’ve done and done-over DUNE itself too many times,and its time to explore some of the other books. I’d LOVE to see them tackle the HOUSE books written by Brian Herbert/Kevin J Anderson, and even their Butlerian Jihad chronicles….all would be very worthy of bringing to the big screen.
February 24th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I agree with the people who wants toto/eno soundtrack for the new dune movie. Really think it would be like a tribute to the Lynch movie. That music is a real peace of art. Listen “Take my Hand Dune” or “the prophecy theme dune” in youtube.
March 4th, 2008 at 12:02 am
What they really ought to do is find a cast of virtual unknowns to play the key younger parts, Paul, Chani, etcetera. The SciFi miniseries struck gold I think with Alek Newman as paul and The kid who was in the Idi Amin pic as leto in the second one. Then you can give the power support roles to some great actors. I think the Lynch version had it right picking actors such as Jurgen Prochnow and Patrick Stewart etc. You gotta have a really loathsome fat guy to play the Baron though. Neither Lynch nor the sci fi channel did him right and Sting was way too over the top to play a decent Feyd.
I really believe that a great Dune is out there waiting to be filmed. With todays effects, it can be done much better than the Lynch version for less coin. Whoever attempts this, however, had better be a fan. If he or she is not, it could suck out loud and I do not think anyone will go to the well to do it again.
Think the way Peter Jackson did. You are making history. Don’t ##~$$ it up.
Art Boerke
March 7th, 2008 at 7:11 am
Well, i’m a huge fan of the book and the Lynchian movie and will definitely be going to see the new Berg movie.
I’ll go into the berg movie definitely knowing that it’ll be a movie void of the subtleties that make the original books and the movie, masterpieces.
I”ll go with the same attitude I would see a Micahael Bay movie with and although i’m a big fan of Michael Mann (App Berg’s Mentor) The Kingdom didn’t have to sensitivty, visually or editorially that Mann disinguished his style with.
The Sci Fi channel version was cheap looking but addictive… i’d never kiss my sister that way though.
March 7th, 2008 at 7:16 am
Firstly: For goodness sake don’t choose Keanu.
Well, i’m a huge fan of the book and the Lynchian movie and will definitely be going to see the new Berg movie.
I’ll go into the berg movie definitely knowing that it’ll be a movie void of the subtleties that make the original books and the movie, masterpieces.
I”ll go with the same attitude I would see a Micahael Bay movie with and although i’m a big fan of Michael Mann (App Berg’s Mentor) The Kingdom didn’t have the sensitivty, visually or editorially that Mann disinguished his style with.
The Sci Fi channel version was cheap looking but addictive… i’d never kiss my sister that way though.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
First off, the David Lynch movie was fantastic. I do not understand how people think that it was just ok. From the actors used (sting as Fayed, Kenneth McMillan as the Baron, etc., the set, the dialogue, etc. It was perfect for an early 80’s movie. Personally this is my favorite movie of all time. And yes, I do understand that pretty much every person on the planet would disagree with me.
Secondly, why would Peter Berg be chosen for such a project? This sort of story needs a director like Peter Jackson or Russell Crow. I hope Berg can do a good job, because this is one of the best sci-fi books/stories of all time…
April 14th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Uhh hey idiots, the article NEVER says that Berg wanted Cruise to be in Dune, much less star in the lead role as Paul Atreides. Read it again morons. This is how rumors get started because no one pays attention to what they are reading.
May 4th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
I am not sure why everyone loves the sci-fi channel mini-series.
It seems that its only merit is that it was a tedious play by play of the
book which does not really work in a context of a movie. Plus, it’s universally agreed that the acting was really bad, the sets were even worse, and don’t forget about the cheap costumes that looked like they were from a high school play. After all of the above it’s a little scary that
the same production people will be involved in the movie.
Lord of the Rings was also a remake so this could be the next great franchise if done right. Ridley Scott passed on the original and made
Blade Runner instead. He would have been the best choice since
he has that eye for detail and drama. Another film series that actually
has a lot of elements of Dune are the Matrix series. What’s facinating
about the Matrix is that it sets up a very complex mythology and world
but still has all the action, affects, drama and mystery in a longer
length movie but still very compelling and fast paced.
The movie needs to be the best elements of Sci-Fi films such as Blade Runner, The Matrix, Lord of the Rings and Alien(the first one). It should be geared towards adults and young adults so the whole Star Wars sanitation would be avoided.
Keep the actors serious and on par with the story. Cate Blanchet
and Tilda Swinton would definitely be amazing. Gerard Butler,
Liam Neeson are good calls. Paul should really be played by 2 actors
since he is supposed to be a very young looking teen in the first half.
Lynch had many great ideas but the producers forced him to make
a film that explained and pandered to an unsophisticated audience
with many voice overs and lack of violence or blood.
On a last note, it would be wise for all involved to see Jadorowsky’s
version of Dune. Yes, he did not eventually make the movie but
he continued with the all the themes and created the comic
series “The Metabarons”. This is probably the best example of the
complexity of Dune realized.