The classic SciFi Epic novel series Dune has been struggling to match its vast story to the big screen for a long time. David Lynch’s Movie or the SciFi TV Miniseries version are often hated or loved, and rarely finds middle ground with the fans.
Well now it is being sent to the big screen with Peter Berg at the helm, but we still have no screenwriter. Now we hear that rookie Josh Zetumer is in negotiations to write.
Josh Zetumer is in negotiations to write the latest incarnation of Dune, Frank Herbert’s sprawling sci-fi epic, for Paramount Pictures.Kevin Misher is producing the new version through his Paramount-based Misher Films. Herbert’s son Brian and Kevin J. Anderson, who have co-written several additional “Dune” novels, will co-produce.
I took a look around for this guy’s resume, and found he hasn’t written much. This always makes me nervous when a complete unknown gets considered to take on such an important job.
Remember Halo? When that nobody hack effects artist Neill Blomkamp was Jackson’s pick for director? The lemmings were all saying Blomkamp was awesome, but we had our doubts. Side note: If Blomkamp is that great of an potential director, why has he still not yet had a Hollywood gig since he is not busy on Halo?? Hmm…
The fan following for Dune is deep seated in the passionate intellectual geeks, and will be dissected mercilessly no matter who writes the screenplay. God himself couldn’t write this movie and please the fans. I fear for the career of this rookie jumping into the big world with so many eyes already on him.
Dawn of the Dead budget: $28,000,000
300 Budget: $60 million
Halo (projected) budget: ~$200 million
Okay, I see your point.
Well, it seems like that you’re making a lot of sense. I agree that Blomkamp was too new and inexperienced for the studios to have any faith in him (though if Bungie had supported him- which I’m not sure if they did- I would defend his placement even more). I had thought that The Dawn of the Dead was pretty pricey a film (all of the special effects, it was remaking a Romero film which I would guess is bigger than a “zombie movie”), but I guess if Jackson was clamoring for a big budget, it was probably sensible for the studios to shut it down.
However, I still dislike the Blomkamp-bashing: calling him a hack, his works crap, etc. It smacks of bitterness. Maybe he wasn’t ready to make Halo or a feature film yet, but calling him a hack is simply ridiculous. Even before his role in Halo was announced, Blomkamp was getting rave reviews around the ‘net for his short films. Honestly, you and John Camera’s blogs are the only places I’ve read such negative comments about him.
Also, “Yellow” may have lacked much of a narrative (it was a shoe commercial, after all), but “Alive in Joburg” definitely had one, even though it was loose. What’s wrong with having the audience fill in the blanks? Should he have come out and blatnantly had the narrator say “the aliens are Africans this represents APARTHEID”? And “Tempbot” had a narrative as well.
I really don’t care about a Halo film at this point. As I said before, I consider franchises to be an ephemeral thing. But Blomkamp-bashing is ridiculous because the guy definitely has potential, he makes a good visual look that should be in movies, and he shouldn’t be insulted out of sour grapes gathered from the failure of the Halo project.
Maybe Hollywood does need to take some chances, but for the same reasons they don’t I have to agree.
The hierarchy exists in a model of proven skills and experience for a reason. Let these guys earn their stripes on lesser films that in themselves can be good, but that the reputation and financial stability of a studio are not hinging upon.
I am not saying this guy shouldnt pursue his career, but I dont want some major studio taking a chance on him with a movie I want to see done right.
Taking a chance on Snyder wasn’t a huge gamble. A Zombie movie has a limited demographic anyways. If he fucks it up, no big. And honestly the studios NEVER expected the success they got with 300. So they were not taking chances there either. Getting lucky with one good film might label you as worthy, but even Snyder has yet to prove himself beyond 300.
Maybe Watchmen comes out and we say, Gee I thought he was good… what happened?
And I didn’t criticize Bomkamp’s choice of context. “Mossad Commandoes Hunting an android in shanghai” could make for a great movie (or video game – exchange the cultures and its been done already), but who is to say this idea is going to be delievered right? Neill can make the android look cool. That much we know. According to your argument, he would make a better writer than a director.
“Just because Snyder gave the gig to another nobody doesnt mean it will automatically be good.”
Of course. But what I’m saying is that just because a director is a nobody doesn’t mean that they can’t make good films.
Again, consider Snyder himself. Just exactly was he doing before he made The Dawn of the Dead? Who’s to say that there aren’t capable, visionary directors outside of Hollywood and the big leagues? Perhaps it’s time that some studios take some big risks instead of calling in the same old Uwe Bolls and Michael Bays of the world.
And to be honest, I don’t care about Peter Jackson and I don’t care about the Halo movie. Film rights are ephemeral. If Kerry Conran’s Halo film in 2012 is a giant disaster then I’ll just wait five to ten years for the Microsoft Studios remake. Honestly- if The Hulk, of all films, can be rebooted, then there’s hope for any fanboy’s franchise. Video game movies will eventually become legitimized much like superhero movies have this year, even if Halo isn’t the one to do it.
I’m defending Blomkamp because the guy truly makes some cool stuff. There’s not a lot of interesting sci-fi films in recent years. His faux-documentary style isn’t too shabby- I’d love to see a World War Z sort of film made by Blomkamp.
Anyways, who can call a film about Mossad commandoes hunting an android in Shanghai “crap”?
Also, to address your concerns about the specific AntiBlomkamp stuff… the fans all fell on one side of his camp or the other.
One side blindly said “Jackson Likes him so he has to be a god among men!” and then worshipped anything with blomkamps name on it out of association.
The other side actually watched his shorts, reviewed his work and said “how does THIS GUY deserve to handle Halo?”
Even Microsoft said to Jackson “get a realistic budget, and get a real director or the deal is off” In the end? Deal was off.
Its not just me, and its not just this site. The guy doesn’t deserve the praise and studios are not willing to take a dive for him.
Just because Snyder gave the gig to another nobody doesnt mean it will automatically be good.
People just assume that is some well known director vouches for someone that they like doesn’t automatically mean they will have the experience or eye to pull it off.
And you hear about the exceptions to the rule BECAUSE they are the exceptions to the rule. Personally I wouldnt trust a big budget name film in the hands of someone who has directed a commercial and some self produced shorts. That is a lot of money to gamble on the reputation of someone who doesnt know how to do it.
Would you trust a pilot to operate your DC10 because he had played an insane amount of Microsoft Flight Simulator? Just because you think he is good, doesnt mean he can handle the big leagues.
The effects were sweet, but what about the high concept aspect of it? Immigrant aliens in South Africa? Social commentary?
Also, I can understand the unhappiness Halo’s fans have about the passing of the film, but why all of the anti-Blomkamp stuff? It’s not his fault Peter Jackson wanted him beyond anyone else.
And again, I point to the example of Zack Snyder (and his new protege, Matthijs van Heijningen) of someone who jumped from making commercials to handling a huge big budget Hollywood film involving a beloved franchise.
Alive is an example of showcasing good special effects, but the rest of it is just average at best. I will agree to disagree, but check your local art school film screenings.
Lots better stuff coming out of there, though rarely the same level of effects.
He is a 3d effects artist who found himself curled up in Jackson’s lap. Nothing more.
“Alive in Joburg” is uninspired film school crap? Well, I guess we must agree to disagree here, though you seem to be in the minority as far as that opinion goes. From the sound of it, the future of cinema must be bright if your friends are cranking out better work than that.
I have seen them both. Both are uninspired film school crap. Honestly.
I have friends currently IN film school doing their BFA that are producing better than those.
And sir, please do not presume I havent seen his dribble and already formed an opinion on him based entirely on a body of his works before presuming I haven’t.
He is a talented animator and effects guy. But I have yet to see anything truly great or inspired out of him.
Feel free to call him unexperienced and unfit for a major film such as Halo, but “hack”? Have you even seen “Yellow” or “Alive in Joburg”? That is some fresh new sci-fi. Sir, please do not presume to label people as “hacks” unless you have actually seen some of their work.
And if you have seen them, what’s wrong with “Yellow” or “Alive in Joburg?”
Silenus, with a quick search on google reveals nothing about the project other than it being announced last november.
And to prove my point, Jackson is the only guy willing to take a chance on him, and its written and directed by this animator. After Jackson took a pile of his own money to do effects for it before Sony decided to distribute under a minor subimprint – likely direct to video.
People have to start somewhere. And just like any REAL director, its at the bottom. Where he belongs. Maybe someday he will prove himself. But hell, Uwe Boll makes movies, so this hack has just as good a shot.
Blomkamp is working on District 9 right now in Africa, hth.
Hey, he may not much that has been published, but this guy was in ‘one of te top ten writers to watch’ – known for his ability to humanize even the darkest of characters.
I think we’ll be okay.
Greatest Sci-Fi series ever putt down on paper.
I say It’s a great idea to have it done by a lesser known scribe.
Because it seems that the old veterans of the pen are producing mostly shite.
Just a thought.
Seems we are in a changing landscape for old tinsel-town.
Kinda like back in the 70’s when American Zoetrope was founded and Hollywood was chock full of undiscovered talent just out of film-school.
Rodney, I think you are a bit off the mark here in regards to the new scribe. You compare him to Halo’s possible one time helmer Blomkamp- which is an unfair if not ridiculous comparison.
First of all (and most important) Zetumer isn’t directing/being considered as a director. He’s a possible writer of the script. Nothing else. Big difference. It’s one thing to put an unproven director in charge, it’s another to put a new writer in on any given production-who could be rewritten by other writers, new or seasoned. The Dune producers may think he’s a good writer, but they may not like his draft(s). They could get another scribe. Nobody blinks twice.
Second, Zetumer may have written a spec script or two which film(s) may never see the light of day for another five years if any year; however, they may have been good enough to land him this job. He also may have done uncredited rewrites and/or polishes.
I just hope they avoid all the Kevin J Anderson stuff. I honestly cannot stand him as a writer.
I read the Dune series every year and I would love to see a good adaptation of the first book. It needs to be broken up into 2 or 3 films. That was the biggest problem with Lynch’s film. Valiant effort though it was, it failed because there was simply too much complex story being crammed into a 2 hour film. I hope they do it right this time.
Right you are…. I was confusing the Lynch version and the miniseries – I corrected my faux pas.
Thanks!
Rodney-
David Lynch directed the movie adaptation of Dune, not the tv miniseries. “Frank Herbert’s Dune,” the Sci-Fi channel miniseries, was directed by John Harrison.
Though technically, the theatrical cut of Dune was directed by Alan B. Smithee.
Hey Rodney,
Thought it worth pointing out that Lynch made a Dune movie, not a mini-series, in 1984. The mini-series was made by the Sci-Fi Channel in 2000.
I always thought that the original movie did a good job of capturing the religious aspects of the book, and that the mini-series did a decent job capturing the political side of the story. Now if they could only manage to get both elements in one film…