Cinematical

According to an article just up at Variety, indie-minded "rebel without a crew" Robert Rodriguez is now attached to direct the big-screen remake of the 70s cult Sci-Fi flick Barbarella for producers Dino and Martha De Laurentis. Fresh from his latest release, the Grind House pic Planet Terror, Rodriguez, according to the article, is now working with Casino Royale writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade on a script for the film to begin shooting later this year.

Said Rodriguez about his latest film and its sexy heroine: "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." Producer De Laurentis was equally as gushing about this latest incarnation of Barbarella. "In our vision, the future is female, and I can't wait to introduce 'Barbarella' to a new generation of moviegoers," he said. Sounds interesting. In case you're not familiar, the original Barbarella, released in 1968, starred a very young Jane Fonda as the super-sexy 41st century astronaut Barbarella.

As the story progresses, our heroine must battle the forces of evil led by deranged scientist Duran Duran (yes, that's where the band took its name from), all the while finding herself in one situation or another where she manages to lose articles of clothing, engage in various erotic acts and eventually finds herself "tortured" by the aptly-named Orgasmatron. Rodriguez seems like a natural fit for the campy, erotic Barbarella story. As a fan of the original I can't wait to see what he does with it. Should make for a very interesting film indeed. No word yet on who will play Barbarella in this new film, although as our own Monika pointed out recently, there's been rampant speculation. Now that the movie has a director and seems poised to start, who would you like to see take on the title role?