Star Wars sequel trilogy star Oscar Issac is in talks to to appear in director Denis Villeneuve‘s upcoming new adaptation of the classic science-fiction novel Dune.
According to Variety, Isaac is up for the role Duke Atreides, the father of the story’s hero Paul Atreides. Call Me By Your Name star Timothee Chalamet has already been cast to play Paul. Production is expected to begin early next year.
Rebecca Ferguson and Dave Bautista are also in the cast.
In Dune, Paul discovers that he may be the prophesized religious figure destined to overthrow the ruling Galactic Empire with his mother Jessica belonging to the religious order that has been covertly working to bring about his rise. Originally released in 1965, author Frank Herbert’s book shoots religious, political and environmental themes through a science-fiction prism, combining them into a story that was instantly recognized as a classic and which had a profound influence on literary science-fiction moving forward. Herbert would pen 5 sequels himself before dying in 1986. In more recent years, his son Brian Herbert has authored or co-authored a number of additional entries in the series.
The book was infamously adapted for the screen once before, by director David Lynch. A critical and box office dud, it did feature some interesting and beautiful art direction and production design.
