During a Q and A session at the Rendez-Vous du Cinema Quebecois, Blade Runner 2049 filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, indulged the audience with a little update on his forthcoming Dune adaptation and we could well be in for a new franchise.
Villeneuve has obviously taken on board the length of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel in his prep for the adaptation and the need to do justice to the writer’s classic work. Villeneuve went on to say that the filmmaking process wouldn’t be a quick ride either.
“Dune will probably take two years to make,” the director said. “The goal is to make two films, maybe more.”
Forest Gump scribe, Eric Roth is also on board to pen the new adaptation – which had previously been made in 1984 with David Lynch at the helm – the story which is set in the distant future, the original novel follows the young Paul Atreides whose noble family accepts control of the desert planet Arrakis. As the only planet capable of producing the highly valuable resource ‘spice’ used for space travel, control of Arrakis is highly contested amongst the noble families.
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When 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.
Legendary Pictures acquired the rights to make films and TV Series of the Sci-Fi classic late last year after making a deal with Herbert’s estate. Villeneuve, who is no stranger to dipping his toe into cult classics is currently still working on Blade Runner 2049, will be teaming up with Mary Parent and Cale Boyter who will produce, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, Thomas Tull and Kim Herbert will executive produce, and Kevin J Anderson will serve as a creative consultant.
