It has just been announced that director Denis Villeneuve will be taking on the remake of 'Dune' more than thirty years after David Lynch launched the long process that was the original - an adaptation of the 1965 sci-fi novel of the same name by Frank Herbert.

Denis VilleneuveDenis Villeneuve to direct 'Dune'

The Academy Award nominated filmmaker, best known for 2013's 'Prisoners', 2015's 'Sicario' and - more recently - 2016's 'Arrival', will be throwing himself into the 'Dune' reboot 33 years after the first adaptation aired in 1984, and he'll be turning it into an ongoing series.

The news was announced by the novellist's son Brian Herbert over Twitter. 'It's official - Legendary Pictures has signed the very talented Denis Villeneuve to direct the exciting new DUNE series film project', he told his followers.

Sir Ridley Scott was also approached for the role of director, but he turned down the project yet again having previously walked away from the original movie when he realised how long production was going to take. He went on to do 'Blade Runner' instead, the upcoming reboot of which - 'Blade Runner 2049' - coincidentally will also be directed by Villeneuve.

It's a brave move from Villeneuve to take on such a daunting project, given how nightmarish the production of the original was. It was first envisioned as a feature in 1971 by Arthur P. Jacobs, though he died before a move could be made on it. Alejandro Jodorowsky later wanted to helm the film with grand ideas of Pink Floyd and Magma doing the music, H. R. Giger among the set designers, and the likes of Salvador Dalí, Orson Welles and Mick Jagger in the cast. Naturally, the funding just wasn't there for what he had it mind.

More: Watch the trailer for 'Blade Runner 2049'

Later it was Dino De Laurentiis who seemed set to complete 'Dune', but ultimately producer Raffaella De Laurentiis (his son) decided that David Lynch would be the best man for the job. Needless to say, he managed it after all that, though while some might consider that a massive triumph, Lynch has long regarded 'Dune' as his greatest failure.

Let's hope the new 'Dune' will go a little smoother.