We all know what a question marked news post signals – rumors and conjecture. But, since this nugget o’ rumors and conjecture has most of the film blogosphere in a lather today, it’s certainly worth the time and discussion. Pajiba is reporting that, their “inside source, The Hollywood Cog” has a few DUNE remake rumors to clear up. First of all, the first draft of the script by Josh Zetumer has been submitted to Paramount. It clocks in at an “epic” 175 pages. But the bigger news is that director Peter Berg, who has long been attached to helm the remake, is now out of the project, and has been for “a few weeks.” Pajiba also confirms that Berg met with Robert Pattinson (sparkles!) last May about taking the part of Paul Atreides, but nothing more has come of it (isn’t Pattinson booked into TWILIGHT movies for the next six years anyway?).

So if Berg is out, who the heck is Paramount putting in? The criteria for the DUNE remake apparently include finding a director who can make a kick-ass film with a budget of $175 million and who has a “preexisting passion for the novel.” The novel, people, that means no one coming of the street looking to be the next David Lynch, but someone whose heart is in the Frank Herbert book the film is based on (and, presumably, the entire “Dune” series as a whole).

Paramount is said to be trying to sell the script to two different directors now that Berg is (supposedly) out: Neil Marshall (THE DESCENT) and Neill Blomkamp (DISTRICT 9). While producer Kevin Misher is apparently backing Marshall, Paramount is “somewhat tepid” on choosing him.

It’s interesting to note that both directors have made names for themselves by making films with relatively low budgets. Blomkamp made his break-out hit for $30 million. Marshall’s marquee title, THE DESCENT, was made for £3,500,000 (approximately $6 million back in 2005). It’s hard to imagine what a $175 million budget would feel like to them (probably daunting and awesome, all at the same time).

If Berg is out, it could simply be due to the fact that he’s a busy guy – he’s got a HANCOCK sequel on his plate, along with the BATTLESHIP-themed film we heard about back in September. His IMDb page also lists a bevy of other in-development projects, including LONE SURVIVOR and COCAINE COWBOYS. Berg’s biggest directorial hit so far has been HANCOCK, but his resume also includes interesting work like THE KINGDOM and FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. Personally, I’ve always preferred his acting, but that’s just me.

So, GATWers, if Berg is out, who do you want in?

Source Pajiba, via Cinematical and Slash Film