Rebecca Ferguson is in talks to star in a 'Dune' reboot.

Rebecca Ferguson

Rebecca Ferguson

The 'Greatest Showman' actress looks set to appear in the sci-fi movie, which will be directed by Denis Villeneuve from a script by Eric Roth after Legendary acquired the rights.

Sources have told Variety that Timothee Chalamet is also in discussions about a role in the motion picture.

Villeneuve, Mary Parent, and Cale Boyter will produce the project, and Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, Thomas Tull, and Kim Herbert will executive produce.

According to Deadline, Chalamet will play the lead character, Paul Atreides, who leads a rebellion to restore his family's reign of desert planet Arrakis after they are betrayed, and Ferguson is in line to portray his Atreides' mother, Lady Jessica.

Legendary acquired the film and TV rights in 2016 after signing a deal with the Frank Herbert estate for his iconic novel.

The original 1984 movie featured Francesca Annis as Jessica, and Kyle MacLachlan played Paul, and Sir Patrick Stewart and Sting also appeared in the film, which was directed by David Lynch.

Villeneuve recently admitted 'Dune' is his "dream project".

He said: "Once I commit, I commit. When Legendary offered me to do 'Dune', on a silver plate? Which was like my dream project that I'm dreaming to do for 30 years?

"I said yes right away."

Ferguson looks set for a busy few years after it was revealed last month she has landed a key role in the new 'Men in Black' spin-off movie.

She is set to appear alongside the likes of Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Rafe Spall and Kumail Nanjani in the sci-fi movie, and has also agreed to play the part of Rose the Hat in film 'Doctor Sleep', which is based on a Stephen King novel.