Before much of her out-spoken political activism, work-out videos and a stint as a monsterous mother-in-law, Jane Fonda was Barbarella. It's been so long since her cheesy sex-bomb sci-fi adventures that it's hard to believe she was actually that same woman. Whereas Racquel Welch ruled the years B.C., Fonda was "the most beautiful creature of the future" a "5-star... astro-navigatrix girl." Now, almost a whopping 40 years later, Dino De Laurentiis wants to update the classic story of the lady who nearly dies of pleasure while taking sex to outer space.I'm not sure how, but this new franchise will not be a remake, but "a completely new Barbarella," according to De Laurentiis. Exactly how is that? The simple act of keeping the name will mean that it will be re-made, so I assume that he means the story will revolve around a new plot with new characters. Will there be Durand Durand? Perhaps the role can be re-imagined for an even older man, and Milo O'Shea can once again bite into something meatier than his recent films, like the saccharine The MatchMaker.
But more pressing: Who should the new Barbarella be? Love is her speciality, so the role should really go to someone with definitive sex-symbol status, or someone great at both sex and farce. Angelina Jolie would be an obvious sex-charisma choice, but she's moving away from that image. Perhaps Salma Hayek? She can juggle both sexiness and tongue-in-cheek. Cinematical's editor, Ryan, thinks Drew Barrymore is the ticket. As for me, I'd go out on a limb and say Leisha Hailey. On The L Word she tackles both sweaty love and over-the-top craziness with ease, so I bet she could pull off some space-age sexiness as well -- that, and she reminds me of a modern-day Fonda. Who would you choose?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
1-29-2007 @ 6:47PM
akaison said...
No one. Barbarella with Jane Fonda IS the only Barbarela. I have fond memories (and I am gay) of seeing that movie drunk and loving it. Why mess with sexploitation perfection? I don't see anyone asking who will be the next Mona Lisa.
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1-29-2007 @ 7:21PM
Amy said...
Fonda is Barbarella. Also, shouldn't Barbarella have some sort of chemistry with her co-stars? I mean for all the overhyped sex appeal of Jolie, she has about as much chemistry with her leading men as oil interacts with water. I mean, let's see, Clive Owen, Daniel Craig, Banderas, the guy in Life or Something Like It, Oliver Martinez, Hawke and others except for Pitt and even that seems to be all cuts thanks to the editor, I mean, the woman does nothing as a female character to the male character. If she were not meant to interact with her male co-stars then perhaps but this way, we might as well just let a piece of wood play Barbarella. And while we are at it, she might want to cover those bones of hers with alot of meat, Barbarella was not Skeletor.
Jolie as a sex whatever is over even the cameras can't help her look good these days.
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1-29-2007 @ 7:32PM
JC said...
Posted at 7:21PM on Jan 29th 2007 by Amy
Jennifer Aniston, is that you?
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1-29-2007 @ 7:50PM
Frank Carey said...
Jessica Alba or Tricia Helfer would perfect as Barbarella.
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1-30-2007 @ 8:00AM
Ross Carroll said...
It has to be Scarlett Johansson. Mmmm I'm seeing her now. Scuse me, I've got to go to the toilet.
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1-31-2007 @ 8:16PM
ajburton29 said...
Sarah Chalke from NBC's 'Scrubs' would be my choice for Barbarella. She's sexy and funny, and I would love to see her in the Excessive Machine!!
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2-01-2007 @ 8:30PM
David said...
Kimber from Nip Tuck
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2-01-2007 @ 8:45PM
Terry said...
I think Pee Wee Herman would be the perfect Barbarella, if not then Scarlett Johansson
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2-01-2007 @ 8:46PM
mj said...
Why always make a copy? Come up with some new ideas. Cheesy though it was, it was great. STOP with remakes.
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2-01-2007 @ 8:53PM
Mike said...
I'd go with Uma Thurman. She's beautiful, brilliant and just a little bit weird. She's also capable of getting physical (Kill Bill). Of course if she did it, it probably wouldn't be cheesy. Kill Bill should have been cheesy but because of Uma it had too much depth and dark humor to be really cheesy. I think the same thing would happen with the new Barbarella.
The original was a yawn, by the way. I should have taken my friend's advice and smoked a joint first.
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2-01-2007 @ 8:56PM
Herb Fulmer said...
Jessica Simpson who else
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2-01-2007 @ 8:59PM
Jnelson said...
Katherine McFee or Ashley Simpson
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2-01-2007 @ 9:15PM
Rich said...
CARMEN ELECTRA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The is need for no other.............
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2-01-2007 @ 9:15PM
Gesmonde said...
Yes, I think it would be a fantastic idea to put Drew Barrymore in another dorky film. Just the ticket to ruining her already horrible career.
Unless you would like to go a little bit closer to grade "A", but not completely there, I think Salma Hayek could do it. But why the heck are they even resurrecting the stupid thing?
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2-01-2007 @ 9:22PM
mouzj said...
Personally, I think Halle Berry would be the perfect person for this role. Think of it, can't you picture it?
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2-01-2007 @ 9:33PM
Ebony said...
I am not the type of young lady to crap all over someone's looks just because I am not them. There are plenty of pretty people in hollywood like Drew Barrymore, Sandra Oh, Lucy Liu, and Sanaa Lathan. These people have real beauty. They don't come on the screen with an eye color that most people crave and lips that most white people will never naturally have and call her beautiful. Angelina Jolie is not even in the slightest bit cute. Her body is awful. She has no ass and her rack isn't even desirable. Yet people call her this exotic beauty. Note: Those african models from dusty countries who walk on the catwalk are called exotic as well. They aren't. Not to mention Jessica Alba is a very pretty girl but she can not act neither can Jessica Simpson. OH! I absolutely love Uma Thurman but if she doesn't go to the gym I am going to lose it. She's tall and pretty but no body what so over (sorry). Scarlett Johansson is to short. And last but not least. Stop making remakes of everything. Don't you people in the producer's seat have any original ideas for movies. TRY USING YOUR BRAINS!!!!!
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2-01-2007 @ 9:57PM
Mark Hutchings said...
After reading all the comments, I have two beautiful women who have proven themselves in the science fiction/horror genre: either Eliza Dushku or Charisma Carpenter.
Both would make worthy succesors to Jane Fonda, and are probably better actresses.
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2-01-2007 @ 10:03PM
Gary said...
I think Jane Fonda should be in the new movie and her Daughter Barberella II hops from galaxy to galaxy looking for her mom. And on the way has delight with alien hunks!!
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2-01-2007 @ 10:03PM
missy said...
Most of the above mentioned are way too short/chunky for the role (Electra, Hayek, Simpson, Johanson..all under 5'5" ). Jolie is perfect for it. And HOW is Uma Thurman 'brilliant' btw???? Connie Neilson is beautiful, how about her???
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2-01-2007 @ 10:11PM
Michael B. Arnold said...
Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle to write the script; Alan Rickman as the villain vs. Uma as Barbarella; it just might work.
As to the original, Jane was 10 times better in Cat Ballou.
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