Frank Herbert's 1965 sci-fi classic "Dune" has been adapted twice -- as a 1984 feature film by David Lynch and as a 2000 television miniseries -- but there have been other attempts over the years. The latest, from Legendary Pictures, has just taken another step toward reality with the addition of a screenwriter. Variety reports that Eric Roth, the Academy Award-winning writer of "Forrest Gump," has boarded the adaptation.

Roth's credits also include the Oscar-nominated screenplays for "Munich," "The Insider," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," and he more recently served as an executive producer on "House of Cards."

Legendary acquired the rights to "Dune" in November, and hired "Arrival" and "Blade Runner 2049" director Denis Villeneuve in February.

Set in the distant future amid a feudal interstellar society, "Dune" tells the story of a family that gains control of Arrakis, a desert planet that's the source of a drug known as "the spice." Soon after, the family is betrayed, and must lead a rebellion to restore their rule of the planet.

No release date has been announced, but has discussed both TV and movie adaptations. Frank Herbert wrote six "Dune" novels, with other authors have contributed more to the saga, so their is ample material for adaptation.