I’ve never actually seen David Lynch’s much lauded 1984 sci-fi movie DUNE, for whatever reason it has been a film I’ve never crossed paths with before. I certainly know of it, and I’m aware that it is regarded as one of the more interesting sci-fi moves from the 80’s and has the kind of cult following that only movies like BLADE RUNNER can usually create.
So this news will probably piss people off, but it’s not really effecting me either way.
THE KINGDOM and FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS director Peter Berg has confirmed to MTV that he will be directing a remake of DUNE and if it wasn’t for the WGA strike, that would indeed be the movie he would be working on now.
You see, they haven’t got a script yet. No word on whether the movie will be closer to the original film, or if it just will be a different adaptation of the classic 60’s Frank Herbert novel.
Berg is next set to direct the CIA thriller EDWIN A. SALT with Tom Cruise in the leading role… or at least that’s the plan at this point.
I’m really enjoying Berg’s directing style to date and I love his enthusiasm for film and how he just keeps jumping from one project to the next. Sci-Fi would be a completely new leap for him altogether but I’m interested to see what he could come up with.
Now, I should really go out and hunt a copy of the original DUNE.
source – coming soon
7 Comments
What are you talking about? The original Dune movie isn’t regarded in the same league as the likes of Blade Runner at all. It was a flop back in the day because it’s a mess of a movie, and any popularity it might enjoy now is from a cult following or from a “so bad it’s good” perspective. It’s regarded as an interesting film by some, but largely because of how damn bizarre it is and how odd many of the choices made were. It’s an oddity, not a classic.
A remake should be quite welcome…especially for fans of the novel.
DUNE is exactly the kind of movie Hollywood should remake. It was imaginative in design but a mess in execution. I hope Peter Berg pushes for the script to be as good as his other works.
And isn’t it interesting how Berg does so well genre-hopping? The Rundown to Friday Night Lights to The Kingdom. The guy refuses to be pigeon-holed.
The Lynch film definitely has its merits. The main problem which caused it to be “a mess” is that the studio kept ordering massive cuts to shorten it.
http://therecshow.com/2007/12/21/dune-it-again/
The film has a lot going for it, even if it is not a complete version of the novel – which may be impossible.
Dave. This is what I said…
“has the kind of cult following that only movies like BLADE RUNNER can usually create.”
HAS THE KIND (meaning loyal and those who strive to work out it’s many themes).
I didn’t say it was in the same league as BLADE RUNNER or as popular. I’m just saying it has a fanbase who appreciate it as much as many of us do for Scott’s film.
Go and find me the fanbase that appreciates Dune as being anything more than a fascinatingly weird screwup. It has the kind of cult following that Manos the Hands of Fate generates.
Now now Dave chill
What about the “forbidden” version by the Spanish group Mediteatro? There go your truly dedicated fans. The lawyers from the Herbert Limited Partnership and the producers certainly don’t want you to know about them.