Barbarella (produced by Dino De Laurentiis)

[CharlieBrummel]

Last August, it was all but assured that Grindhouse babe Rose McGowan was set to star as the title character, an ultra-hot space vixen, in Robert Rodriguez’s remake of Barbarella.

Or so we thought.

Because soon came the budget disputes. And the posturing. And the claims that Universal didn’t want McGowan at all, preferring instead a bigger name actress like Jessica Alba or Nicole Kidman.

Turns out, we got it right the first time, McGowan insisted, telling MTV News that she was still very much signed on to play the lead in the upcoming film.

“[The news that I was out] was really irritating because I know all the people over there and obviously it wasn’t true. It was very malicious and there was no proof,” McGowan said of the rumors. “Oftentimes these things have basis in truth but this didn’t. I have contracts to prove it.”

Not just the contracts, either, but sets and costumes, and a whole “lot of pre-production work,” McGowan revealed, hinting that the flick is actually quite a bit further along than previously speculated.

“Half of the sets have been built. The costumes are done,” the actress confessed, adding with a laugh that she’s “even got my spaceships. I’ve got part of a spaceship built for me!”


http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/04/11/exclusive-rose-mcgowan-says-shes-still-barbarella/

[Cody]

Some more info from last May's announcement (http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=20547)

Robert Rodriguez (Planet Terror, Sin City, Spy Kids, El Mariachi) will direct Barbarella, a new motion picture adaptation of the classic science-fiction comic book series, it was announced today by producers Dino and Martha De Laurentiis. Universal Pictures will distribute the film, which will be released worldwide in 2008.

Barbarella tells the story of a female mercenary who roams across the universe in a distant future, undertaking missions that require her physical fearlessness, ingenuity and sensuality. In travels that span galaxies known and unknown, Barbarella will challenge tradition, startle the senses and take audiences on an epic adventure of discovery and wonder. Barbarella made her debut in 1962 in a French graphic magazine written and illustrated by Jean-Claude Forest, and her adventures have been published around the world. The first film version, starring Jane Fonda and also produced by Dino De Laurentiis, was released in 1968.

"Dino De Laurentiis came to me and said: '"Barbarella" is a world where you are completely free to unleash all your fantasies, creativity and imagination -- where the possibilities are limitless,'" commented Robert Rodriguez. "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."

"Barbarella is the ultimate science-fiction adventure heroine: smart, strong and sexy," said Dino De Laurentiis. "In our vision, the future is female, and I can't wait to introduce 'Barbarella' to a new generation of moviegoers."

Rodriguez is working with writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, who are developing a completely original adventure for Barbarella. Purvis and Wade co-wrote the phenomenally successful Casino Royale and have recently finished work on the next installment in the James Bond franchise, James Bond 22.

"When we decided to take 'Barbarella' on again," noted Martha De Laurentiis, "we wanted the film to play as a big, legitimately exciting adventure in space, but we also know that the character of Barbarella is grounded in a very specific reality. Balancing those aspects requires a very deft hand. With Robert directing and Neal and Robert writing, we feel like we have the dream team in place."

I didn't like the 1968 film, but I'm looking forward to this. I'll follow Rodriguez anywhere.

[The Tall Man]

No Excessive Machine, no dice. That is what made "Barbarella" worth sitting through.

T.M.

[Scarecrow]

Certainly an... interesting choice of casting. Hopefully this will keep some level of cheese.


- Scarecrow

[Natman]

After Planet Terror, these two have become my dream team. Bring it on. The fact that the original was ridiculous just makes this more awesome. Pretty much just a live-action Heavy Metal anyway.

[Cody]

Huge news!*

McGowan dyes for 'Barbarella' (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117984542.html?categoryid=13&cs=1)

ROSE MCGOWAN really knows her movie lore and makes for an erudite and dazzling new co-host on Turner Classic Movies' "Essentials." Rose, famous for her pitch-black locks in the TV series "Charmed" and the 2007 feature "Grindhouse," is now blond. She went blond for the remake of "Barbarella" being directed by Robert Rodriguez. (Rodriguez and Rose are engaged.) Rose insists the new "Barbarella" is still a go despite the pending actors strike.

But one wonders if the innocent and "high camp" Roger Vadim/Jane Fonda 1968 version should even be tampered with? Audiences were once shocked to see Jane's gravity-free striptease over the opening titles. There were coy glimpses of her body throughout. But the movie was more funny than salacious.

*OK, so I exaggerated.

[The Tall Man]

But one wonders if the innocent and "high camp" Roger Vadim/Jane Fonda 1968 version
"Innocent"? The film's highlight is Jane Fonda having a forced orgasm. Did we even see the same movie?

T.M.

[Deathscythe]

Imagine what Innocent isn't to them than.

[AOD]

Rose McGowan is Yummy:bow:........ Rose McGowan in the Excessive Machine Yummier:love:

[Cody]

Rumor (http://www.imdb.com/news/ns0000002/#ni0255121) from the gossip pages

Actress Rose McGowan has reportedly split with fiance Robert Rodriguez - because of financial difficulties on forthcoming film Barbarella.

The Grindhouse star was set to take the lead in a remake of the 1968 cult classic, with Rodriguez directing the movie.

But the couple have now allegedly split following disagreements over the film's money problems.

McGowan apparently wasn't a big enough box office draw for the $70 million (GBP35 million) remake, after her 2007 film Grindhouse only grossed $25.4 million (GBP12.7 million).

A source tells the New York Post's gossip column PageSix, "Too bad Grindhouse didn't gross $100 million (GBP50 million). Then, maybe, Barbarella would have gotten the green light.

"Instead, the moguls were saying, 'We need a bigger star, a bigger name.'"

The project was reportedly set to be axed by Universal Studios in October, because of Rodriguez's decision to cast girlfriend McGowan in the lead role.

The screen beauty fell for the filmmaker on the set of Planet Terror, one half of the double bill Grindhouse, and the couple went public with their relationship in May that year - shortly after Rodriguez filed for divorce from his wife of 16 years, Elizabeth Avellan.

[Deathscythe]

So basically she was just with him for the film roles? :/

[Cody]

And denied

Actress Rose McGowan has blasted reports she has been dropped from her director fiance Robert Rodriguez's forthcoming movie Barbarella, amid rumours of a split.

The couple, who met on the set of 2007's double bill Grindhouse, was alleged to have parted ways following a row over financial difficulties for the remake of the 1968 cult classic, in which McGowan would take the lead role.

She was also due to star in two of Rodriguez's other projects - Red Sonja and Woman in Chains! - when reports of the break-up emerged.

But the actress' representative has denied the pair has ended their working relationship, telling People.com, "The production of all three films is moving forward with Rose to star."

And a source close to McGowan insists the 34-year-old beauty is still with the filmmaker: "She and Robert are fine."

[Seth]

Quick reminder, folks: if it comes from a UK paper/magazine/whatever and has to do with celebrities, always take it with a grain of salt. Having lived here for a little while now, I can safely say that sometimes even the major papers run with some extraordinarily stupid, baseless stuff.

[Cody]

‘Barbarella’ Adaptation Is Dead (http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/05/05/exclusive-robert-rodriguezs-barbarella-adaptation-is-dead/)

Like the tides and Lindsay Lohan’s film career, movie projects come and go. One project we’re particularly sad to see go bye-bye is Robert Rodriguez’s planned adaptation of the schlocky, sexy 1968 sci-fi flick, “Barbarella.”

Yes, MTV News learned exclusively during a conversation with the director to promote the Blu-ray version of “Sin City” that his “Barbarella” is officially dead.

The film had been in development for years. Back in 2007, Universal Pictures was set to make the picture with Rose McGowan taking over the lead role from original star Jane Fonda. But the budget was said to have swelled past $80 million dollars and Universal balked. Rodriguez went in search of alternate financing.

“It came to the point where [a company from] Germany offered us a $70 million budget, which would have been by far the biggest budget I ever would have had for a movie,” Rodriguez told MTV News. “But I had to shoot it in Germany and post it in Germany. Nothing against Germany, but I have five kids and I was like, ‘God, I don’t know if we can do that. I don’t know if I can be away that long.’”

Rodriguez reluctantly said no and moved on to other projects. “It was a real bummer,” he admitted. “We had all this artwork and screen tests of what it would look like. It was a really cool, R-rated, sexy—almost like that [1981 animated] movie, ‘Heavy Metal’—version of a ‘Star Wars’ movie. Something that no one ever could get to see. It was gonna be really great.”

The director hopes to one day release the artwork just so fans can see what he was planning—and so those who questioned his decision to revisit the original will see the error of their ways. “People said, ‘Why are you doing ‘Barbarella?’” he told us. “And I showed them the artwork and explained it. They would go, ‘Ooooh, okay!’”

The decision to make Barbarella stemmed from his work with Frank Miller on “Sin City” in 2005. “After ‘Sin City,’ I was looking through all my comic collection to see, ‘Well, what else might I make?’ The only other thing that I had tons of were Heavy Metal magazines. I said, ‘I wanna make a Heavy Metal movie!’ And ‘Barbarella’ fit the bill because you could have everything in that movie.”

At least, that was the plan…

[Bill 1981]

Well, he could do the whole thing animated like the original Heavy Metal... *shrugs* Fucked if I know.

[The Dream Master]

De Laurentiis Tells Barbarella Remake "Rise From Your Grave (http://www.imdb.com/news/ni0946017/)"

Hollywood's top leading ladies are battling it out to play the role Jane Fonda made famous in a remake of 60s hit Barbarella.

Legendary producer Dino DeLaurentiis has confirmed the movie is his number one priority, after director Robert Rodriguez cancelled plans to rework the film with his girlfriend Rose McGowan in the starring role.

Legally Blonde movie maker Robert Luketic is now in the hot seat, and Lorenze De Maio, the boss of De Laurentiis' production company, reveals stars like Lindsay Lohan, Scarlett Johansson and Evan Rachel Wood are vying to play the sexually adventurous space traveller.

De Maio tells Daily Variety, "Every young actress in town is interested in playing that Barbarella part."

[The Tall Man]

De Laurentiis Tells Barbarella Remake "Rise From Your Grave (http://www.imdb.com/news/ni0946017/)"
Shouldn't Dino be telling that to himself? http://www.clipartof.com/images/emoticons/xsmall2/404_giggling_baker.gif

T.M., Esq.