Paramount has been trying to develop another take on Frank Herbert’s sci-fi classic Dune since 2007 and Peter Berg was originally attached to Direct.

Since then, Berg’s most recent update  in September and revealed that DUNE would be a PG-13 “massive epic”.

Movie blog Pajiba is now reporting that Berg has left the project and “his Film 44 production company backed out.” Now Paramount is scrambling to find a new director.” According to them, District 9’s Neill Blomkamp is one of only two alternatives.

Joshua Zetumer was hired the write the screenplay sometime last year. Pajiba adds that Zetumer turned in an “epic 175-page draft earlier this year.”

Paramount is searching for a director who can put the movie together for under $175 million, and someone who has “a preexisting passion for the novel and is enthusiastic about the project.”

According to Pajiba, the top choices are: Neil Marshall (of The Descent and Doomsday) and Neill Blomkamp (of District 9). We just reported a few days ago that Blomkamp’s next original sci-fi project had been given the greenlight, so if he does take the directors chair, Paramount will likely have to wait awhile and considering the scope and budget of DUNE – they may do just that.

The studio is sketchy on Neil Marshall, they are weary about handing over a $175 million film with franchise potential to a somewhat unknown director whose only hit was the modestly successful The Descent.

What do you think? Marshall now, wait for Blomkamp? or Why the hell are they making a new Dune anyway? Let us know what you think in the comments!