District 9 and Descent directors both up for Dune reboot?

Recently Josh Zetumer (Untitled Jason Bourne 4 Project) submitted a 175 page draft script for the new Dune film that director Peter Berg (Hancock) was at the time attached to helm. At the time, Berg said that he and Zetume would attempt to “beat the script into something manageable without offending the purists”, according to WorstPreviews.

Now a site called Pajiba reports that Berg and his Film 44 Productions have walked, leaving Paramount desperate to find a new director to take his place.

According to the report, there are currently two directors at the top of the studio’s wish list, including wunderkind Neill Blompkamp – who turned a little sci-fi film titled District 9, into an instant cult classic, and financial powerhouse with franchise potential – and fanboy favorite cult director Neil Marshall, who helmed The Descent and Doomsday. According to reports, Paramount wants to develop Dune for under $175 million and are leaning toward Blompkamp, taking into account what he did with District 9 for only $30 million.

Before Peter Berg bolted, he was in talks with Robert Pattinson (Twilight) to star, which probably had more than a few fanboys concerned, so the new choices could mean a complete shift in direction for the project. Could the new Dune turn into another New Zealand epic? What do you think?