Oscar Isaac is currently in talks to join Timothee Chalamet and Dave Bautista in Legendary’s adaptation of the Frank Herbert sci-fi novel “Dune.”
Rebecca Ferguson is also set to star in the movie, which will be directed by “Arrival” and “Blade Runner 2049” filmmaker Denis Villeneuve. Eric Roth and Jon Spaihts are writing the script, with Villeneuve producing alongside Mary Parent and Cale Boyter. Brian and Kim Herbert, the son and granddaughter of Frank Herbert, are attached as executive producers.
Set in the distant future, “Dune” tells the story of Paul Atreides, whose family accepts control of the desert planet Arrakis. The planet is the only source of the coveted spice melange, which means control of Arrakis is highly contested among the noble families. After Paul and his family are betrayed, the story explores themes of politics, religion and man’s relationship to nature, as Paul leads a rebellion to restore his family’s control of Arrakis.
“Dune” was previously adapted into a film directed by David Lynch in 1984 and was a commercial and critical failure. In the ensuing decades, attempts have been made to adapt the film again, including by Paramount in 2008. After Paramount dropped its rights in 2011, Legendary acquired them in November 2016 and signed on Villeneuve to direct three months later.
Isaac has appeared in several sci-fi films in recent years, most famously as Poe Dameron in the Disney “Star Wars” trilogy and also in the Alex Garland adaptation of “Annihilation” alongside Natalie Portman.
In 2019, Isaac is set to reprise his performance as Poe in “Star Wars: Episode IX,” and will also star alongside Ben Affleck in the Netflix action film “Triple Frontier.” He is repped by WME, and the talks were first reported by Variety.