Frank Herbert's sprawling, complex Dune novels have been a tricky subject for those looking to adapt them over the years, Alejandro Jodorowsky was denied, David Lynch was disappointed and the TV miniseries version, while more able to cope with the expansive story, never won a lot of acclaim. But the franchise spice must flow and now Legendary Entertainment has picked up the rights to at least the first book.
A deal has been struck between Legendary – the team behind the likes of the Pacific Rim films, the new Kong and Godzilla movies and Interstellar – and the Frank Herbert estate to allow the production company to develop movie ideas and TV shows based on the struggles of the Atreides family and the war for control of the desert planet Arrakis, home to both a valuable "Spice" that allows interstellar travel and deadly sandworms.
No filmmakers are attached yet, and we'll have to see what Legendary decides to do with the property. Surely TV is a better venue than movies, since Dune cries out for a Game Of Thrones-style epic of warring families and harsh conditions...