The re-imagined book cover for Frank Herbert’s Dune. Image: Pinterest/@davidhomister
“Dune” is one of the most prominent classics in the science fiction world. A new movie for this franchise was announced last year. Decision has now been made to bring screenwriter Eric Roth on board to adapt Frank Herbert’s classic novel for the big screen.
Some of Roth’s screenwriting credits include “Forrest Gump”, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, “The Insider” and “Munich”. Roth has also worked with directors like Steven Spielberg, Michael Mann and Robert Zemeckis. With this portfolio alone, fans of the “Dune” franchise can breath easy that their favorite sci-fi classic is in good hands.
At the helm of this movie is director Denis Villeneuve who also worked on “Arrival” and “Blade Runner 2049”.
The story of the original “Dune” novel is set on a desert planet called Arrakis, known colloquially as Dune. It weaves politics, action and science fiction in a sweeping masterpiece that spanned several volumes. It also inspired a movie adaptation back in 1984 by another contemporary film auteur, David Lynch.
Rights for the entire “Dune” universe from Herbert’s estate were acquired last year by Legendary Entertainment, which has since seen Villeneuve starting work on the first film.
“Dune” is at times compared to “The Lord of the Rings” for its in-depth lore, iconic characters and rich locales. This makes fan skepticism something to be expected at a new attempt of a movie adaptation. In any case, a new adaptation can be another chance to bring to life what readers see in their minds’ eye, whenever they traverse the pages of “Dune”. Alfred Bayle/JB