The Hollywood Reporter released the news late night that a remake of “Barbarella” is in production. Like, seriously in production, with a writer, Joe Gazzam (no discernible credits to date), and a director, Robert Luketic (“Legally Blonde,” “Monster-In-Law,” “The Ugly Truth” uhh….). The remake was originally intended as a vehicle for Rose McGowen with Robert Rodriguez attached to direct, but after that went to hell in a hand basket when someone decided to go in a new direction and get a major chick flick director on board. Talk about drastic U-Turn, going from the director most known for “Sin City” to the one most known for blonde leading-lady rom-coms.
“Barbarella” was a revolutionary concept at the time it was created. The eponymous lead character was created in a comic book by Jean-Claude Forrest in 1962, a few years before the sexual revolution of the 1960s really broke out, but when the movie was released in 1968 starring Jane Fonda it was still a revelation to see a woman involved in so many campy sexcapades. Flash forward 40+ years [ed.: holy crap, it has been that long!] and we live in times where, sexually, nothing’s shocking. We really wonder if a “Barberella” in the 2010s can pack as much wallop as the 1960s version. Maybe they’ll have to make it soft-core porn.