The Jane Fonda classic Barbarella is getting the reboot treatment. Released in 1968, the original film, directed by Roger Vadim, takes inspiration from the Jean-Claude Forest comic book series. It follows Fonda as a representative of the United Earth government tasked with finding a scientist who’s created a weapon that could destroy humanity. Rumblings of a sequel or reboot have persisted over the years, but none have yet managed to come to fruition.
Now, a remake of the classic film is in the works at Sony Pictures with Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria, The White Lotus). Per Deadline, Sweeney has partnered up with the studio for an all-new feature film adaptation. The reported plan is for Sweeney to take the lead role, though she will also be on board as an executive producer. This is where the project starts as well, as no director or screenwriters have yet been attached. With the recent acclaim Sydney has been garnering, the reboot may finally get the traction it needs to finally get moving.
This also marks the latest casting for Sweeney on a Sony project, after she recently joined the cast of the upcoming superhero feature Madame Web with Dakota Johnson. She is also attached to Sony’s upcoming feature The Registration. She might be best known for her Emmy-nominated roles on the HBO shows Euphoria and The White Lotus, though she’s also been seen in shows like The Handmaid’s Tale, Everything Sucks!, and Sharp Objects. Sweeney’s other recent film work includes Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Voyeurs, and Night Teeth.
Barbarella Remake Rumors Have Lasted for Years
Paramount Pictures
For decades, there have been rumors of Barbarella getting a sequel. At one point in the early 1990s, there were rumblings of a new movie featuring Jane Fonda’s daughter. Robert Rodriguez would later take interest in rebooting Barbarella in the 2000s with Rose McGowan attached to star in the titular role. Ultimately, the project fizzled out when Rodriguez departed due to budgetary concerns.
“Well, I don’t own Barbarella, the estate does, but I decided to be more interested in the Neon Demon,” Refn said on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. “Plus there are other television things that caught my attention [because] I actually enjoy designing it from the beginning. It became…Barbarella, it was like Logan’s Run: certain things are better left untouched. You don’t need to remake everything.”
There’s no word yet on when the new Barbarella with Sydney Sweeney will start production, but if the project is finally happening, then additional information should be soon forthcoming. Stay tuned.
