1968 was a big year for science fiction cinema. Stanley Kubrick brought his monumental 2001: A Space Odyssey to the big screen. Franklin J. Schaffner told the story of the Planet of the Apes. And then there was a whole strange space adventurewhich completely went against the serious, dark character of the genre colleagues mentioned: Barbarella.
From the extreme sexualization of the title character to the idiosyncratic production design: Barbarella burned itself into the memory of pop culture like few other science fiction films and was heatedly discussed. Many film fans now see the space as bizarre a camp masterpiece. No wonder Hollywood has been trying to remake it for years.
Multiple failed sci-fi reboot: Syndey Sweeney confirms her Barbarella film is still coming
A new version of Barbarella was announced in October 2022. The casting in particular caused a stir at the time: Sydney Sweeney, who was last seen in the cinema in Where the Lie Falls and Madame Web, should take the lead role. Since then, however, the project has become shockingly quiet.
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Sydney Sweeney in Reality
Josh Horowitz noticed this too. In the latest edition of his podcast Happy Sad Confused, he asked Sweeney directly. Sweeney, who rose to prominence on the HBO hit Euphoria, admits hopeful update: Yes, the Barbarella remake is still in development.
Sweeney also explains what appeals to her about the role:
It’s a lot of fun to explore a character like Barbarella. She truly embraces her femininity and sexuality. I love this. She uses sex as a weapon. And I think that’s a very interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So let’s see what happens.
Sweeney has been working toward the Barbarella role for a long time. Last week she revealed in an interview with GQ that she flopped Marvel blockbuster Madame Web primarily to build a relationship with the studio Sony, which now also produces Barbarella.
Sweeney stated:
For me it was [Madame Web] a building block through which I was able to build a relationship with Sony. Without Madame Web, I would have no contact with the decision-makers there. My career decisions are not just about the stories [der Filme]but also around strategic business decisions. Because I [Madame Web] I was able to sell Where the Lie Falls. I was able to get Barbarella.
Now we can’t wait to see how Barbarella will be modernized for a new generation with Sweeney in the lead role. Horowitz addresses it briefly in his podcast: Despite many iconic moments, the Gender roles were distributed completely differently in 1968 than today. There are likely to be some changes here compared to the original.
Sweeney doesn’t say too much about them Direction of the new Barbarella film elicit. A look at the history books shows that Hollywood is clearly having a hard time reissuing the material. Robert Rodriguez failed in 2007 before directors like Robert Luketic and Nicolas Winding Refn threw in the towel.
When does Barbarella with Sydney Sweeney start in cinemas?
A specific theatrical release for the Barbarella reboot has not yet been determined. Sweeney is the only talent linked to the project so far. Not even the direction and script have been clarified. Accordingly, it will probably be a long time before the new Barbarella film hits the cinema.