What do you do when tasked with adapting what's considered to be one of the most unfilmable books ever published?
Hire the hottest director in town of course.
Denis Villeneuve is one of the most exciting directors working in cinema today. Last year's Sicario was criminally overlooked during the awards season but his latest effort, Arrival ,is generating serious Oscar buzz. He's also got a little movie coming out next summer called Blade Runner 2049.
Now The Hollywood Reporter are claiming that Villeneuve is in talks with Legendary Pictures to adapt Frank Herbert's classic science-fiction novel, Dune.
Dune, which traverses themes of politics, religion and nature, follows Paul Atreides, whose family controls the desert planet Arrakis, which is the only producer of a highly valuable resource, spice melange. When Paul and his family are betrayed, he leads a rebellion to regain control of the desert planet.
David Lynch directed the 1984 adaptation of the novel starring Kyle MacLachlan which was released to critical disappointment but has gone on to become a cult classic.
With the success of Arrival, Villeneuve would most likely have his pick of projects. If he does sign on to direct Dune, he can never be accused of playing it safe.
