During the ’80s, John Sayles gave independent American filmmaking a talent it could stand behind. He continued to make self-possessed, idiosyncratic movies through the ’90s and onward to the present day, most recently completing Go For Sisters in 2013. Frank Herbert rose to prominence in sci-fi circles on the popularity of his breakout novel Dune in 1965, and then went to work on further Dune novels and a vast array of other galaxy-hopping adventures. David Lynch spun the sprawling vision of Dune into an incomprehensible Star-Wars-on-luudes fever dream with his 1984 film adaptation, which remains one of his most reviled works. Sayles and Herbert, two men with little in common, are brought together today under the same umbrella. The fan bases of these two figures likely have little overlap, though it’s a safe bet that those fitting both categories are a scream at cocktail parties.

The select few aisle-crossing devotees will be exceedingly pleased to learn that Sayles has signed on to adapt Herbert’s novel Soul Catcher for the screen. Deadline reports that though Smoke Signals director Chris Eyre will be at the helm of the picture, Sayles will rework Herbert’s characteristically surreal novel into script form. Eyre’s a fine choice, by the way; as a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes (as well as being a skilled filmmaker in his own right), he’s suited to this project that speaks to distinctly Native American themes.

Soul Catcher centers on Quileute tribe member and anthropology student Charles Hobuhet. The novel is set in motion when white loggers rape Charles’ sister, and he decides that that’s one shameful injustice perpetrated on his people too many. Assuming the identity of Katsuk and returning to his traditional roots, he goes on a quest to kidnap the 13-year-old son of a high-profile politician so that he may sacrifice him in a vengeance ritual. Matters become muddled, however, when a bond forms between Katsuk and young David as they trek through the Pacific Northwest and avoid capture. I must confess that I haven’t read the book, though my research indicates that the highly controversial ending for the novel will most likely be scrapped. Producer Dimitri Villard said in an interview with Indian Country that “the ending [Herbert] wrote is not cinematically acceptable.” Hearteningly, the interview adds that Villard has “enlisted the assistance of Quileute tribal member [and inspiration for Herbert’s original novel, Howard] Hansen, who along with the production team will rework the ending of the film to be culturally appropriate.” Whoa, whoa! The white-dominated film industry is actually listening to Native spokespeople when crafting portrayals of a culture that they can’t possibly understand? Someone call the Sandman!