With Denis Villeneuve now signed on to direct Dune, the upcoming new take on an old favourite has brought in a screenwriter.

As per Variety, Legendary has hired Oscar winner Eric Roth to pen this new Dune picture. Roth is best known for writing the likes of Forrest Gump, The Insider and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Add those credentials to those of Villeneuve – who helmed Sicario, Prisoners and Arrival – and it certainly bodes well for this redo.

Dune began life back in 1965, with Frank Herbert’s original novel tying for the 1966 Hugo Award and then winning the inaugural Nebula Award for Best Novel. Set in the distant future, the story centres on Paul Atreides as his family takes control of the desert planet known as Arrakis. With valuable resources key to the tale, what unravels is a plot that’s full of politics, betrayal, and man’s relationship with nature. A Kyle MacLachlan-starring, David Lynch-helmed movie followed in 1984, which went on to become a cult classic, and then Syfy developed a Dune TV series in 2000. As for written works, Herbert penned five sequels himself before Kevin J. Anderson and the aforementioned Brian Herbert expanded that written world even further.

As ever, expect more on this as it develops.