Barbarella Is On Again, Off Again, On Again?

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: WENN

Sometimes film makers just don't know when to give up. They keep trying to get a film made no matter how many obstacles are thrown in their path. They continue on, when most people would throw in the towel and walk away. Such is the case with the much maligned remake of the 1968 cult classic "Barbarella." The film has gone through, now, three directors, two leading ladies, faced financial troubles and has had to move shooting locations from the US to Germany. Obviously, there is a big red flag associated with this one, yet people still insist on pushing forward with the project.

Now, after director Robert Rodriguez had his fill with the project, yet another film maker, Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde, Monster-in-Law), has jumped in to yet once again resurrect "Barbarella."

It is assumed that Luketic will simply take the production over from where Rodriquez left off.

News of a remake of "Barbarella" first surfaced in April of 2007, when producer Dino De Laurentiis had secured the rights to the film. At the time De Laurentiis had tapped director Peter Webber to head the project and "Casino Royale" writers Robert Wade and Neal Purvis to pen the screenplay.

The actress that they had lined up to play the sexy, space-hoping heroin Barbarella was none other than Scarlett Johansson.....or so the rumors were at the time.

By August of 2007 Webber and Johansson were out and Robert Rodriguez was in. The new director came under almost immediate scrutiny, when he announced that he had cast his girlfriend, Rose McGowan, as the lead. Studio executives scoffed at the idea of having the actress take on a title role after her last film, "Grindhouse", failed at the box office. The director's rock solid stance on McGowan lead to many a conflict between himself and the brass at Universal Studios, which eventually lead to them pulling their $100 million backing of the film.

After that Rodriguez spent the better part of a year looking for another studio and financial backing for "Barbarella." Eventually the director would find a taker, in Germany, but ultimately Rodriguez didn't want to make the film overseas, so he walked away from it.

Just before he washed his hands of the project Rodriguez told MTV, "We had all this artwork and screen tests of what it would look like. It was a really cool, R-rated, sexy version of a Star Wars movie... It was gonna be really great."

With both Rodriguez and McGowan now removed from "Barbarella" it is possible that the pair will begin production on the remake of "Red Sonja", which was announced last year.

See Also: Rose McGowan Goes From Barbarella To Red Sonja / Barbarella Derailed By A Rose / Rose McGowan As Barbarella? / 'Barbarella' Is A Go / Peter Webber Signs On For 'Barbarella'