Variety confirms new Dune film
March 17th, 2008Variety has just confirmed the new Dune film adaptation to be helmed by Peter Berg. First reported back in December by MTV, we now have more detailed information about the producers. Kevin Misher (The Interpreter, The Rundown) will produce, with Richard Rubenstein and Sarah Aubrey also producing and Dune veterans John Harrison and Mike Messina serving as executive producers. Rubenstein is CEO of New Amsterdam Entertainment, the production company behind the Sci-Fi Channel’s Dune and Children miniseries. Aubrey is with Film 44, Berg’s production banner. The New Amsterdam press release also states that Brian Herbet and Kevin J. Anderson, authors of the prequels and other books in the Dune universe, will co-produce the new film too.
This team of producers combines both fresh faces and seasoned veterans to tackling the challenge of bringing Dune to the bigscreen. Berg’s recent works include The Kingdom, a detective thriller set in Saudi Arabia, Friday Night Lights, and soon to be released Hancock. Misher spent a year negotiating with the Herbert family estate for the book rights.
Paramount is currently eyeing a 2010 release, with Dune possibly serving as a tentpole film.
The film is currently out to writers, and the producers are seeking a faithful adaptation of the book. The theme of ecology and scarcity of resources is a particularly timely one for all the filmmakers.
While much depends on the script that is written, I am concerned that a 2010 release is not enough time to bring a story like Dune to the screen, especially since Berg has at least two other films lined up before he starts working full time on Dune.
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