‘Taken’ Director Takes Over ‘Dune’ Remake

Published by Jeff Leins on January 4, 2010

Pierre Morel, the French director of last January’s smash hit Taken, has agreed to take over the remake of 1984’s Dune.

Peter Berg was originally set for a 2010 Dune, but backed out in October 2009 after committing to Battleship for Universal followed by his passion project Afghan war drama Lone Survivor.

Paramount will now set out for another writer to help Morel, a long time fan of the book, craft his own vision for the film, a more faithful adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic science fiction novel than the odd attempt by David Lynch or the 2000 miniseries.  Josh Zerturner wrote the first draft for Berg.

Meanwhile, Morel will work on a sequel to Taken and promote the February release of From Paris with Love, starring John Travolta.

Entertainment Weekly had the inside scoop, but no word on whether Sting will reprise his role as a strange man in a metal loincloth.