New Dune film to be an ‘epic adventure’ claims Berg

07 August 2009

John Howell

Peter Berg recently talked about his upcoming adaptation of Frank Herbert’s iconic science fiction novel Dune, with claims that his new film will be a completely different interpretation when compared to David Lynch's 1984 Dune movie and the two Syfy miniseries, Dune and Children of Dune. It will be more of an epic adventure, he said.

“I have a different experience than both of those filmmakers did,” he recently told SciFi Wire.

He believes that Frank Herbert’s novel Dune is “much more muscular and adventurous, more violent and possibly even a little bit more fun,” than the previous interpretations have revealed.

"I think those are all elements of my experience of the book that can be brought in without offending the die-hard fans of the Bene Gesserit and Kwisatz Haderach. There's a more dynamic film to be made,” he said.

It’s good to hear more about Berg’s Dune, apart from the original announcement and a rumour that Twilight star Robert Pattinson could play Paul Atreides, details have been scarce.  I’ve got to say though, as a fan of the books, these comments worry me.

A more “muscular”, “violent” and “fun” movie? Does this mean he’s aiming for a shallow, pyrotechnic, cliché ridden Hollywood action flick? Slow motion sequences of heroic figures strolling towards spacecraft like Michael Bay’s Armageddon perhaps? If you take sand worms, life extending spice, and Great Houses fighting each other, I’m sure you could easily produce a lowest common denominator Hollywood franchise movie, but there’s a lot more depth and subtlety in Herbert’s creations to explore.

Still, let's hope I’m overreacting massively. It’s early days yet. Who knows what we’ll get when all the pieces come together. Let’s hope that Dune’s second big screen adaptation gets the balance just right. We’ll let you know when we hear more.

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