There’s a rumor floating around the intarwubs that Paramount is thinking about taking another stab at adapting Frank Herbert’s seminal sci-fi novel Dune. Here’s why I think this is an awesome idea:
1) It’s a fantastic book. Really. One of a handful of unqualified sci-fi masterpieces. And if you think it’s all about Sting (pictured) in awkward codpieces and sand wedged in uncomfortable places, peep this quote, attributed to Herbert: "I had this theory that superheroes were disastrous for humans, that even if you postulated an infallible hero, the things this hero set in motion fell eventually into the hands of fallible mortals. What better way to destroy a civilization, society or a race than to set people into the wild oscillations which follow their turning over their critical judgment and decision-making faculties to a superhero?"
If that’s not perfectly in sync with our current Heroes/comic-book pop-culture obsessions, I don’t know what is.
2) Neither of the previous adaptations have lived up to the book’s promise, not David Lynch’s 1984 film (with Kyle MacLachlan as the superhero in question) nor the Sci-Fi Channel’s 2000 miniseries. (I have a weird fondness for the Lynch. It doesn’t make sense, but it absolutely feels like we’re peering into an alien world, and you can’t say that for most movie science fiction.) This material ripe for reinvention.
Good idea or bad idea? What other classic sci-fi texts would you love to see on the big screen? Asimov’s Foundation saga? Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land? (Personally, I vote for Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game.)
I love Ender’s Game and think it would make an awesome movie. But you know Hollywood would mess it up — there’s not a studio on the planet that would be brave enough to show 11 year old boys killing each other. They’d turn it into some craptacular teen idol movie starring Zac Efron. I’d rather them not make it at all if they can’t do it right.
i totally agree. i always wished there was a better version, but how many times do you have to do it to get it right? hopefully, third time’s a charm. it would be great if somehow they could do all the books(the originals-doing the prequals would just be going to far). dune was amazing but heretics and chapterhouse were so amazing. frank herbert was a genious.
I couldn’t disagree with you more. The Lynch version of this great novel sucked badly and deseved to tank at the box office. The Sci Fi Channel version, while not perfect, is by far the better adaptation. This book cannot, and should not, be forced into the 2-hour mold of most movies. The only way this movie could work is if Paramount embraced the Lord of the Rings model: two-and-a-half, possibly 3-plus hours, and even then I don’t think it would do the book justice. While I grok the idea turning Stranger in a Strange Land into a movie, would the movie-going public?
I love both versions of Dune (and Sci Fi’s far superior Children of Dune sequel), but I always wished there were a way to combine the dank exoticism and otherworldliness of the Lynch movie with the clearer (and much more faithful) storytelling of the Sci Fi version. I would welcome any new take on it. You can’t ever have too much Dune!
I loved both versions of story as well as scifi’s Children of the Dune. I would totally watch the remake. I think it would be great if they took a stab at making other great scifi books into movies as well. I love Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land as well as many book by David Edding.
Ender’s game has been in the works for a long time…they still cnat find the right kid.
I also disagree with you though, the movie was horrible….the sci fi miniseries was so much better…it is a long series and any hollywood treatment of it is going to suffer cause of time.
Gotta agree with Marc…first, neither Dune adaptation has presented the excitement and epic splendor of the book, and second, Lynch’s Dune, while a narrative mess, did have some inspired visual and character moments, and wasn’t as dull and bloodless as the television version. Now, about that remake…has anyone called up Guillermo del Toro…because he would be the perfect director.
I like both versions but the movie didn’t stay close enough to the story and the mini-series was almost ruined by distracting costumes and sets. I would love to see The Sparrow by Russel or anything by Guy Gavrial Kay be a movie or mini-series. The most commercial would be the Anne McCaffrey Dragon series–not the greatest writing but really wonderful stories. The first book has a strong hero who knife fights & argues with corrupt government officials, a mysterious (& feisty) woman who fakes being ugly (people love makeovers) and then saves the day, plus a great save the world storyline. And dragons of course–good, telepathic dragons who spout fire and menace the bad guys. It’s practically a screenplay already–the characters are strong, the finish is dramatic, and the romance is the always fun “I hate you/I love you” situation. Again–the writing is pretty simple (I loved it as a kid) but the core story and the world McCaffrey has built is rich and interesting–and VERY commercial.
I would love to see someone do Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden files as a movie. I know that there was a SciFi channel TV show, but Harry would make such a great movie character.
Also I know the intent was books that need to be adapted, but I miss Buffy. I’d love to see a Buffy movie.
I’d love to see another big-budget crack at Dune. The Lynch version, while I enjoy the movie, isn’t really Dune. The miniseries stays pretty close to the story, but in suffers from poor production values (Especially the second half. The desert scenes look like they’re on a soundstage, which they probably were. It’s distracting, and takes away from the epic scope you feel from the book. Those desert scenes should feel very Lawrence of Arabia.)
You need to get a director with a grand scope for this story. Guillermo del Toro is a good suggestion. I’d toss Peter Jackson in the mix too. Spielberg could have done it about 20 years ago, but he’s doing more personal projects now, and War of the Worlds was bad, so he can’t get that grand sci-fi feel anymore.
I like the Lynch version of the Dune and don’t see it being made any better, really. I absolutely loathe Orson Scott Card. they could try and do Starship Troopers more like the book and without the bugs, though I actually like that movie for its entertainment value. I like Rendezvous with Rama. I’d like to see a remake of Fantastic Voyage with a huge budget for the inner body scenes. I’d cast a huge vote for Nine Princes in Amber as a great idea for a series of movies set in the world of Amber. Lastly, how about Fred Saberhagen’s Berserker series or his Sword series?
Dune was the first real sci-fi I had seen other than Star Wars. I loved the movie – still do. I read the books afterwards and continue to read them. I liked the Sci-Fi channel’s adaptations. I’d love a remake if it were done in a mini-series or series of movies like Lord of The Rings or Harry Potter. I wish they rest of the novels would be produced after Children of Dune. I think Peter Jackson would be the best director for it.
While they may not be considered classics, I would enjoy seeing Lois McMaster Bujold’s series about Miles Vorkosigan (and the early book about his mother Cordelia ) filmed. Peter Dinklage would be perfect in the lead.
Other series I think might make good movies: Pamela Sargeant’s Venus Prime series and Octavia Butler’s Dawn series. And I agree with Arthur Clarke’s Rendevous with Rama series.
Oops forgot to put my name on the posting.
Dune was the first real sci-fi I had seen other than Star Wars. I loved the movie – still do. I read the books afterwards and continue to read them. I liked the Sci-Fi channel’s adaptations. I’d love a remake if it were done in a mini-series or series of movies like Lord of The Rings or Harry Potter. I wish they rest of the novels would be produced after Children of Dune. I think Peter Jackson would be the best director for it.
While they may not be considered classics, I would enjoy seeing Lois McMaster Bujold’s series about Miles Vorkosigan (and the early book about his mother Cordelia ) filmed. Peter Dinklage would be perfect in the lead.
Other series I think might make good movies: Pamela Sargeant’s Venus Prime series and Octavia Butler’s Dawn series. And I agree with Arthur Clarke’s Rendevous with Rama series.
John Littell’s Bad Voltage or the original sci fi classic “Dr Adder” by KW Jeter would both be great to adapt into films. Bad Voltage featured cyberpunk teens who did designer drugs and rocket skated the sewers of Paris. The lead character had something like an ipod, except it was built into his nerve system.
Dr. Adder is half scripted like a movie already, and covered a lot of the themes we saw in later cyberpunk sci fi, like the Matrix movies.
I’d also like to give a plug to “Starship Troopers”. The movie was okay, but didn’t capture the vibe of the book. Nevermind the tasteless, straight to video sequel. The computer series was good, but left us without a clear ending to the war. I’d love to see someone do the series justice, with a clear ending.
Neither previous version of Dune was very good. I’d like to see Ridley Scott take a crack at it. Other sci-fi I’d like to see on the big screen:
A (much better!) version of Zelazny’s “Damnation Alley”.
Zelazny’s “The Doors of His Face, The Lamps of His Mouth”
Harrison’s “The Stainless Steel Rat”