Legendary Picks Up Rights to Classic Sci-Fi Novel 'Dune'

[Panapaok]

A new visit to the planet of Arrakis is being planned.

Legendary has picked up the film and television rights to Dune, the classic science fiction novel by Frank Herbert, the company announced Monday.

Legendary said its agreement calls for the development and production of possible film and television projects for a global audience.

Set in the distant future, Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides whose family accepts control of the desert planet Arrakis. As the only producer of a highly valuable resource, control of Arrakis is highly contested among the noble families. After Paul and his family are betrayed, the story explores themes of politics, religion, and man’s relationship to nature as Paul leads a rebellion to restore his family’s control of Arrakis.

The projects would be produced by Thomas Tull, Mary Parent and Cale Boyter. Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt and Kim Herbert are serving as executive producers.

The novel was an instant success in sci-fi critics circles when it was first published in 1965 but took a few years before it hit mainstream success. By then, Herbert had spun the book into an epic book series and into a franchise that has lived beyond his death in 1986.

Dune was adapted into a movie by director David Lynch in 1984. It was poorly received although it later developed a cult following. The bomb was a culmination of almost 15 years’ worth of development by several filmmakers’ to bring the story to the big-screen, with an infamous attempt by cult director Alejandro Jodorowsky. That attempt was recorded in the 2013 documentary Jodorowsky's Dune.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/legendary-picks-up-rights-classic-sci-fi-novel-dune-949719

[Panapaok]

Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners, Sicario, Arrival) is in talks to direct.

http://variety.com/2016/film/news/denis-villeneuve-dune-reboot-legendary-pictures-1201929280/

[Soolsma]

Good, it's about time they turn those masterpieces into film again (hopefully a couple). I've always loved the books and though I kind of liked Lynch's interpretation, I don't think it did them much justice. The TV series also didn't really work for me.

[Annie]

Interesting; I'll go look over at the Dune forum...