Peter Berg is no longer attached to direct the new adaptation of Frank Herbert's sci-fi classic "Dune" for Paramount Pictures reports Pajiba.

The film, which has been in development for several years, was adapted by Josh Zetumer into a 175-page epic screenplay and Berg was attached earlier this Summer and spoke about the project as recently as last month.

However now it seems he and his Film 44 production company, which have been lining up several projects in recent months, are apparently no longer a part of the project which Kevin Misher ("Public Enemies") is still attached to produce.

Both Neill Blompkamp ("District 9") and Neil Marshall ("The Descent," "Doomsday") have been mentioned as potential replacements, though both are being approached cautiously as neither has handled a project of this scale before (said to be in the budget range of $175 million).

Previous adaptations include David Lynch's 1984 big-budget feature and the Sci-Fi Channel mini-series in 2000.