Paramount Pictures has set Pierre Morel to direct Dune, the adaptation of Frank Herberts 1965 sci-fi classic novel.
Morel, who last directed the action hit Taken, has signed a deal with the studio and will work toward getting the script right. Pic is one of the biggest priorities on the slate of Par Motion Picture Group prexy Adam Goodman.
Kevin Mishers Misher Films will produce with New Amsterdams Richard Rubenstein, who produced the telepic Dune and the sequel Children of Dune.
Pic had been developed by Peter Berg, who exited when he committed to Universals Battleship, based on the Hasbro naval combat board game. Universal set a July 1, 2011 release for that film and committed to follow with Bergs passion project, the Afghan was drama Lone Survivor. Those back-to-back directing gigs will keep Berg busy for at least two years.
Berg developed a Dune draft with Josh Zetumer, the script who separately has been scripting the fourth installment of The Bourne Identity for Universal. Paramount will work off Zetumers draft, but the studio will secure another writer shortly.
Dune was first turned into a film by David Lynch, whose 1984 effort was not a financial success. Herberts novelabout an intergalactic struggle to control the supply of a valuable spice found only on the remote desert planet Arrakisremains the biggest selling sci fi novel and its still enormously popular. Morel, for instance, is a long time fan who brought his well-worn copy of the novel with him to meetings at Paramount, sources said.
The studio will begin doing R&D work on a picture that promises to be pricey.
Deal makes Dune a candidate to be the next directing assignment for Morel, who is also in early stage development on a sequel to Taken. He is also developing Pursuit, an action thriller at Universal based on the exploits of conflict photographer Jason Howe. Howe fell in love with a woman while on assignment in Colombia, only to discover she was an assassin. Morel most recently wrapped the John Travolta-starrer From Paris with Love. He is repped by WME and Artist Talent Management.
