Barbarella For The Naughties?

[Pip Madeley]

There's plans afoot...

Producer plans Barbarella remake

A remake of the cult 1960s science-fiction film Barbarella is in development, according to reports.
Original producer Dino De Laurentiis has secured the rights to remake the 1968 film, which starred Jane Fonda.

De Laurentiis told trade paper Variety that Barbarella was the "ultimate science-fiction adventure heroine: smart, strong, funny and sexy".

Casino Royale writers Robert Wade and Neal Purvis will pen the script. No release date has been announced.

The original film, based on Frenchman Jean-Claude Forest's comic-book creation, was a box-office flop but has since acquired cult status.

The rights deal, with Jean-Claude's son Julien, will also see the reissue of the first two Barbarella books, along with the publication of material previously unreleased in English.

Legendary Italian film-maker De Laurentiis has produced a string of Hollywood blockbusters including the 1976 remake of King Kong and, most recently, the Hannibal Lecter sequels Hannibal and Red Dragon.

The question is, who would you choose to be the modern day Barbarella?

[Pip Madeley]

Oh, and just for the record:

[Nathan]

This was in development in the early 90's with Sherilyn Fenn in the roll.

[Pip Madeley]

The sausage roll or the bacon roll?

[Ralph]

I think I'd say one Barbarella is probably enough

[Jonno]

I like Barbarella, but you don't have to be naughty to enjoy it!

[Carol Baynes]

The question is, who would you choose to be the modern day Barbarella?

Over heeeeerrrrrrrre

[Trudi G]

I don't think there's anyone else who could play Barbarella, they should leave it well alone!

[Ralph]

I have this movie on DVD but it's a film I can't sit and watch all the way through, I prefer to watch in segments and enjoy it that way. Jane Fonda is an absolute babe in it.

I agree Trudi this is another cinematic icon of the 60s - they tried The Time Machine and Planet of the Apes and failed miserably.

[Trudi G]

I have this movie on DVD but it's a film I can't sit and watch all the way through, I prefer to watch in segments and enjoy it that way. Jane Fonda is an absolute babe in it.

I agree Trudi this is another cinematic icon of the 60s - they tried The Time Machine and Planet of the Apes and failed miserably.

Oh God yes - i saw The Time Machine remake and it was absolutely awful! So far i haven't gotten up the courage to watch the Planet of the Apes remake yet!

[Wayne]

but it's a film I can't sit and watch all the way through,

That speaks volumes.

Sorry, Jane Fonda may indeed have been gorgeous, but i think it's a shite film. I wouldn't buy the dvd, i'd rather have a poster.

[Ralph]

That speaks volumes.

Sorry, Jane Fonda may indeed have been gorgeous, but i think it's a shite film. I wouldn't buy the dvd, i'd rather have a poster.

It's just a series of posters to me!

[Carol Baynes]

That speaks volumes.

Sorry, Jane Fonda may indeed have been gorgeous, but i think it's a shite film. I wouldn't buy the dvd, i'd rather have a poster.

I have it on DVD, and I've enjoyed it for what it is- a vaguely psychedelic, swinging Sixties camp fest with rude jokes and bad special effects. But it probably is shite by the standards of much cinema, yes! Is this the one with the Orgasmatron, or is that "Sleeper"???

Easy, boys...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amYRGIzX-eo

[Captain Tancredi]

Is this the one with the Orgasmatron, or is that "Sleeper"???

I think that's your fevered imagination, dear...

I can't say I've ever actually seen it, but the tricky thing with making it now would surely be keeping the same kind of spirit without the sexuality becoming crass and tacky. It needs a balance of innocence and knowingness which probably needs to be altered for today's viewers who are used to seeing everything and having everything discussed all the time.

[Andrew Curnow]

That's a very good point, Ian - in its own way it is an oddly innocent, or at least naive, little film, and I can't see how they can really remake it now in the same way. I suppose it depends on how far you stretch the definition of 'remake'.

And I agree with the comments about the remake of "The Time Machine", it was dire.

[Jonno]

This did indeed have the Orgasmatron, Carol - it was like some giant undulating piano keyboard that Duran Duran was playing, with a naked Barbarella writhing underneath!

[Ralph]

Jonno appears to have studied that part well!

[Wayne]

Click on her.

[Ralph]

Jonno will be click happy on that one

[Wayne]

That's one way of putting it.

[Pip Madeley]

This remake is looking more and more likely this from the Beeb:

Sin City director Robert Rodriguez is to make a new film version of cult sci-fi classic Barbarella. The original film, based on Frenchman Jean-Claude Forest's comic book, starred Jane Fonda as the titular mercenary and intergalactic sex-kitten.

"The possibilities are limitless," said Rodriguez. "I love this iconic character and all that she represents."

Original producer Dino De Laurentiis is in charge of the remake, which is due to be released by Universal next year. "Barbarella is the ultimate science-fiction adventure heroine - smart, strong and sexy," De Laurentiis said in a statement. "In our vision, the future is female, and I can't wait to introduce Barbarella to a new generation of moviegoers."

[Carol Baynes]

Hmmmm...I'm warming to this idea.

[Alex]

I read that on Empire's site today, and couldn't get too excited about it, Rodriguez is very hit and miss (though when he hits, he really hits!), and I don't know, I guess it's a film I've not that much time for so a remake doesn't excite me too much. Unless they cast Drew Barrymore in the lead role. Then it'll probably excite me quite a lot. Ahem.