Paramount is done with Dune

I feel like I’ve been talking about the DUNE reboot/reimagining/whatever since I started here in 2009. Apparently it’s been on the burner for awhile now, four years to be exact–until today.

Paramount has given up on everything DUNE. The rights holders and Paramount came to a parting as the rights lapsed. “Paramount’s option has expired and we couldn’t reach an agreement,” said Richard P. Rubinstein who controls the rights to the novel. “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.”.

According to Rubinstein everything with Paramount came down to money, but he said that all parties were okay with that. Rubenstein is still optimistic, “Sure, it’s frustrating, how long this has taken, but most of what I’ve done that worked out well over the years, like the miniseries The Stand, took a long time. Since I know what I want, eventually, I’ll find someone who’ll agree with me. What I like is that talent has interesting things to say on how they would approach it.” Kevin Misher (PUBLIC ENEMIES) was helping Rubenstein by taking on a role as producer but currently everything is still up in the air, “Right now, Dune has no commitments or attachments.”

The fate of DUNE always seemed fairly shaky. For a moment it looked like it was going to get off the ground but when director Peter Berg dropped out to do BATTLESHIP things went downhill. Pierre Morel (TAKEN) at one point collaborated with Chase Palmer on the script. Rubinstein and Misher really favored what came out of that teaming. Morel was also one of the potential directors of the adaptation. Rubinstein noted that he would possibly reconnect with Morel and Palmer, but this has yet to happen. All they need is a financier to put up $100 million or so and production can get started.

To be honest, I was looking forward to seeing a new take on the world of DUNE but I’m sort of glad that it’s done. For now…