Paramount Pictures have spent the past four years trying to figure out how to adapt Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel Dune , but they’ve finally thrown in the towel.
Despite first signing Hancock director Peter Berg and then Taken ’s Pierre Morel to helm the adaptation, the studio have decided to allow the rights to lapse.
Richard P. Rubinstein, who controls the Dune rights, said:
“Paramount’s option has expired and we couldn’t reach an agreement. I’m going to look at my options, and whether I wind up taking the script we developed in turnaround, or start over, I’m not sure yet.”
The script as it stands is a new draft by Chase Palmer ( Taken ), who rewrote the original script handed in by Quantum Of Solace ’s Josh Zetumer.
Rubinstein, however, is optimistic that he’ll be able to get the script made into a movie at some point in the future, noting that “since I know what I want, eventually, I’ll find someone who’ll agree with me”.
Dune was previously adapted by David Lynch in 1984, and revolves around a battle for the desert planet of Arrakis.
