Barbar-hella! Robert Rodriguez Is Fonda of Rose McGowan in Queen of the Galaxy Role, But Universal Winces | The New York Observer:

Sin City director Robert Rodriguez is letting his heart get in the way of his better judgment with his forthcoming big-budget remake of Barbarella, a source with knowledge of the production told the Transom.

Universal Studios has backed out of backing the movie, whose budget the source pegged at nearly $100 million, because Mr. Rodriguez has insisted on casting his new fiancé, Rose McGowan, in the lead role, famously played by Jane Fonda in the 1968 original directed by Ms. Fonda’s then-husband, Roger Vadim.

The movie depicts a futuristic astronaut who travels the galaxy, seductively conquering everything in her path. More famous names floated for the part included Nicole Kidman, Halle Berry and Jessica Alba.

“It’s sort of embarrassing for everyone involved,” the source said. “No one thinks Rose can carry the movie, but Robert won’t listen.” [...] Mr. Rodriguez denied this, claiming the issue was simply one of budget. “Universal had initially signed on for $60 million,” he told the Transom, “but then when we were done with the script it wound up at closer to $82 million, and they had just financed a Will Ferrell movie that was a $130 million and they even cut that down to $100.” He said Universal would still be happy to fund the picture for $60 million, but that he was shopping it around to other studios in the hopes of getting more money. Mr. Rodriguez is known for his ability to make movies cheaply, but believes it will be difficult with Barbarella since much of the film takes place in outer space, and “we don’t want the movie to look like the original,” he said.

The director alleges that the people at Universal were in fact thrilled with Ms. McGowan’s screen test, “blown over,” as he put it. “They said, ‘What are we looking at?’” Mr. Rodriguez said. “She looks fantastic in the role. … She was perfect for this part. She just has that daring look, a sort of classic sexiness that is also kind of futuristic.” [...]

...Futuristic sexiness? ... well, whatever.

I don't think Rose McGowan is necessarily a bad actress -- the only things I've seen her in are "Charmed", Devil in the Flesh and Jawbreaker, and frankly, it's hard to judge someone's talent from those -- but I'm really not sure I'd strap a $100 million-plus movie to her back. Especially not one where she'd be following in Jane Fonda's high-booted footsteps. Especially if the desire of both DeLaurentiis and Universal is, as has been reported, to de-campify the story. A woman who just played a role where they stuck a machine gun to a leg stump and had her firing with wild abandon is just not whom I would think of if one of the criteria is "not campy".

Also? Seriously can't imagine Nicole Kidman or Halle Berry playing this role. In any event, assuming that funding is found soon and filming starts in the next few months, Halle Berry likely couldn't play the role, since she's due in March.

Rodriguez to direct 'Barbarella':

Robert Rodriguez has signed on to direct "Barbarella," a new feature adaptation of the classic sci-fi comic book series that Universal Pictures is fast-tracking for a 2008 worldwide release. The character was immortalized in a 1968 movie starring Jane Fonda. Dino De Laurentiis, who produced the original film, will produce the update with Martha De Laurentiis. "Barbarella" tells the story of a female mercenary who roams across the universe of a distant future, undertaking missions that require physical fearlessness, ingenuity and sensuality. The character debuted in 1962 in a French graphic magazine written and illustrated by Jean-Claude Forest and was known for her many adventures, often involving sex. There also was a musical produced in 2004.

"Dino De Laurentiis came to me and said, ' "Barbarella" is a world where you are completely free to unleash all your fantasies, creativity and imagination -- where the possibilities are limitless,' " Rodriguez said. "I love this iconic character and all that she represents, and I'm truly excited by the challenge of inviting a new audience into her universe."

"Barbarella is the ultimate science-fiction adventure heroine: smart, strong and sexy, " Dino De Laurentiis said. "In our vision, the future is female, and I can't wait to introduce Barbarella to a new generation of moviegoers."

Rodriguez is working with writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, who are developing a completely original adventure for Barbarella. Purvis and Wade co-wrote "Casino Royale" and recently finished work on the next installment in the James Bond franchise, which has a working title of "Bond 22."[...]

So, we got Purvis and Wade, and we got Rodriguez.

Yeah ... yeah, so I'm still thinking "an awfully grim, free, modern gal who somehow manages to use her sexuality as a fighting skill" is pretty much the way they're headed. Mind, it'll probably be well-written, hyperviolent free modern gal sex, or something like that. And now she's likely to have machine guns in some relentlessly interesting places.

To be fair, Rodriguez can do light and family-oriented, even in an action film; I really do kind of love the Spy Kids movies. THAT said, nothing in the oeuvres of Neal Purvis or of Robert Wade makes me think that they can do a light action movie, so I'm still thinking we're headed for hyperviolent and grim. A futuristic James Bond, only female, and probably with Ursula Andress-approved booby guns.

And a great many dramatic situations clearly will begin with screaming.

Variety.com - 'Barbarella' back in action:

Producers Dino and Martha De Laurentiis have completed a rights deal that will allow them to reinvent "Barbarella," and the producers have set "Casino Royale" scribes Neal Purvis and Robert Wade to pen the script. The original 1968 Roger Vadim-directed fantasy was produced by De Laurentiis, who wrote the check to secure Purvis and Wade.

De Laurentiis recently completed a film rights acquisition deal with Julien Forest, the son of Jean-Claude Forest, author of the French comicbook series on which the film was based. Deal, made with Hollywood Comics principal Jean-Marc Lofficier and French agent Laurie Roy, calls for the reissue of the first two Barbarella books in concert with the feature, along with the publication of material that previously hadn't been translated into English. "Barbarella is the ultimate science-fiction adventure heroine: smart, strong funny and sexy," De Laurentiis said. "I'm excited to reintroduce Barbarella to a new generation of moviegoers."

In the original film, Jane Fonda played the title character as a kittenish sexpot. That movie comes off as camp and dated by today's standards. In the remake, the scribes will make Barbarella a free, modern gal who survives in a futuristic world through her intelligence, fighting skills and sexuality...

"A free, modern gal". Well. Yes. Quite. Given that writing team, I'm guessing an awfully grim free, modern gal who somehow manages to use her sexuality as a fighting skill. Like Xenia Onatopp in Goldeneye, maybe; after all, she was free and modern and survived the world with her sexuality. Mind, since they actually probably want us to like Barbarella, maybe she'd have fewer orgasms than Xenia during the actual killing bits. To be sure, if they go back to the original comics source, it's going to be much darker than the film was in any event. Though, interestingly enough, with probably just as much lying around looking interestingly attractive.

If you want a heroine who is intelligent and kickass and sexy, I vote for Gina Torres. Unfortunately, the producers, when there are some, probably won't -- she's an odd combination of both not that big a name plus probably a bit too expensive for what they want to do, plus given that she's 37 now and would probably be 40 by the time the film is made, they'll think she's too old -- and honestly, if they're going back to the original source, she probably is. (The original source is also kind of emphatic about her blondness, as I recall, which could be an issue if they're doing a re-release of the comics.) Which is too bad, really, because she does intelligent and kickass like nobody's business. I expect, however, they'll probably go for an unknown. (Frankly, with the original Barbarella film coloring the discussion, they may need to; I'm not sure there are too many established younger actresses who would go near anything they felt might turn out like that.)

In any event, it's part and parcel of the continuing trend of taking older properties and reworking them for a more modern (read: 18-35 year olds with disposable income) audience that hasn't seen the original. I wonder if, down the line, they'd do a re-release of the original Barbarella film as a two-DVD set. Maybe do an Ultimate Barbarella package with both films and the new and old comics as well; maybe include the old Duran Duran "Electric Barbarella" video on the DVD as well as videos for whatever the zippy new theme song will be (because there will be one, done by someone who is Cool! And Hep! And Happening! And Now! or however it is that the young'uns refer to it these days).

I do hope they keep the line "A great many dramatic situations begin with screaming." I'm pretty sure they won't -- that there is some high camp, all on its own -- but it's such a cool line!