Dune is largely considered to be one of the best pieces of science fiction literature from the 20th century, but its 1984 cinematic adaptation, directed by David Lynch, was met with overall negative reception (though it has since gained cult status). Since then, there have been numerous attempts to make a new Dune movie, each met with obstacle after obstacle. Fortunately for fans for the Frank Herbert-penned novel, it looks like a reboot is closer to becoming a reality than ever. Last month, Legendary Entertainment acquired the movie and TV rights to Dune, and now there's word that Arrival and Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villeneuve may be the man who ends up helming the new movie.
According to Variety, Denis Villeneuve is in early talks to direct the Dune reboot. Legendary didn't comment on the news, but Villeneuve has expressed interest in the past in directing a Dune movie. If hired, it's unclear if he would be involved in any television projects connected to the Dune universe, but considering the success of Arrival since its release in November, attaching him to an adaptation of a beloved sci-fi property would be a wise decision.
Needless to say the last 12-18 months have been great for Denis Villeneuve. First Sicario opened to the public in October 2015 and was met with critical acclaim. A sequel, Soldado, has since been greenlit, although Villeneuve passed on directing to Stefano Sollima due to scheduling issues. Then Arrival was released last month, taking in over $140 million worldwide and collecting two Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama, i.e. Amy Adams, and Best Original Score (sadly, no Best Drama). To top it all off, Villeneuve has been shooting Blade Runner 2049, and the blockbuster will be released on October 6, 2017. Directing Dune would not only add another blockbuster to his resume, but also fulfill a longtime "dream" of his.
Set in the distant future, Dune follows Paul Atreides, a young man whose family controls the desert planet Arrakis, which is the only world that contains the highly-valued resource known as melange. When Paul and family are betrayed, Paul must lead a rebellion to reclaim his family's rightful inheritance. If the Dune movie reboot moves forward, it actually wouldn't be the first live action adaptation since the 1984 movie. In 2000, the then-Sci-Fi channel aired the well-received Frank Herbert's Dune miniseries, followed by Frank Herbert's Children of Dune (which combined the Dune Messiah and Children of Dune novels together) in 2003.
We'll keep you updated on how the Dune reboot is progressing as more news comes in, but makes sure to let us know what you think of Denis Villeneuve potentially directing the movie in the comments below.
