Frank Herbert's sci-fi classic, last seen in cinemas in David Lynch's 1984 lurid adaptation, looks set for another screen outing under Pierre Morel

It proved something of a grand folly for David Lynch, whose 1984 adaptation was a commercial and critical flop, while Salvador Dalí and Orson Welles were set to star in a 10-hour version almost a decade earlier. Now Dune, the bestselling science-fiction novel of all time, looks set to be revamped for the 21st century with French director Pierre Morel at the reins.

According to Variety, Morel, best known for directing the Liam Neeson-starring revenge thriller Taken, will also work to hone a screenplay by Peter Berg and Josh Zetumer into a finished product. Berg, of Hancock fame, was previously set to direct, but has decided to work on the forthcoming adaptation of board game Battleship instead.

Morel is said to be a long-time fan of Frank Herbert's 1965 novel, which launched a series that eventually spanned six books. It centres on a sprawling feudal interstellar empire where planetary fiefdoms are controlled by noble houses. The first book tells the story of the ongoing battle to control the valuable "spice melange" which is found only on the desert planet of Arrakis.

Dune may represent something of a poisoned chalice for Morel. Lynch's lurid 1984 version, starring Kyle MacLachlan, Sting, Sean Young and Patrick Stewart among others, was bedevilled by the film-maker's battles with producers and financiers. He eventually distanced himself from the movie, declaring that he had not been given final cut.

Before that, Alejandro Jodorowsky was set to direct a 10-hour feature in 1975, featuring the likes of Salvador Dalí, Orson Welles, David Carradine and Mick Jagger. HR Giger, the Swiss artist who would later create the terrifying extraterrestrials for Ridley Scott's Alien, was brought in to work on the central building, the Harkonnen Castle. Dan O'Bannon, who wrote Alien's screenplay, was in line to work on the special effects. Unfortunately, the financing fell through before the shoot began.

• This article was amended on Friday 8 January 2010. Dune (the book) was first published in 1965, not 1969 has we said. This has been corrected.