Pierre Morel Signs On to Direct 'Dune'

Jan 5, 2010 - Dune may just be moving forward once again. The Hollywood Reporter says Pierre Morel, director of the action films District 13, Taken (with Liam Neeson) and From Paris with Love (with John Travolta), has signed up to helm the sci-fi film for Paramount Pictures.

Morel takes over after Peter Berg (The Kingdom, Hancock) departed the project. Berg opted to go to work on Universal Pictures' Battleship instead.

Frank Herbert's novel was made into a feature film once before way back in 1984. David Lynch adapted and directed that take on Herbert's work, with Kyle MacLachan in the lead role of Paul Atreides. There hasn't been any official casting news for this new version, however for a very short while there was a rumor flying around the internet speculating Twilight star Robert Pattinson might be considering the role of Paul. The rumor, which was sparked by Pattinson's visit to Peter Berg's LA home, was shot down fairly quickly.

Paramount's searching for a new writer to finesse the draft by Josh Zetumer, according to THR, and they're hoping to keep the new movie as faithful as possible to Herbert's classic bestselling, award-winning 1965 novel. Kevin Misher, Sarah Aubrey, and Richard P. Rubinstein are producing.