The Heat Vision blog is reporting that Pierre Morel has signed on to direct Dune for Paramount Pictures.
Kevin Misher is producing the adaptation of the famed science fiction novel by Frank Herbert. He’s had it set up at Paramount since May 2008. Peter Berg (Hancock, The Kingdom) was going to
Pete Berg was attached to helm the futuristic tale but had to retract his commitment as he left to make Battleship (yes, based on the popular game) for Universal.
David Lynch helmed an adaptation of Dune back in the 1980s that was released by Universal. The novel has since been adapted again for TV and helped launch a series of novels written co-written by Brian Herbert (Frank Herbert’s son) and Kevin J. Anderson.
The news of Pierre Morel signing is at least a sign that the project is finally getting off the ground. Now Paramount is looking for writer to do a rewrite on the script. As to whether or not Morel’s a good fit to direct science fiction, I say it’s a wait and see. He’s already shown us what he can do with Liam Neeson and some action set pieces. Just imagine what he can do with a huge sandbox (a desert, really).
Source: Heat Vision