Summary

• The Barbarella remake is reportedly in talks with Edgar Wright to direct, bringing a fast-paced visual style.
• The involvement of talented writers like Jane Goldman hints at turning Barbarella into a successful film franchise.
• Sydney Sweeney's success at the box office makes her a bankable star, contributing to the fast-tracking of the Barbarella remake.

Sydney Sweeney's Barbarella remake is reportedly in talks with Edgar Wright to direct. The 1968 sci-fi film, which was based on the French comic book and directed by Roger Vadim, starred Jane Fonda as the titular space traveler sent to find the evil scientist Durand Durand, who threatens to bring evil back to the galaxy. Barbarella wasn't a big box office hit, though it became a cult classic, and in October 2022, it was announced that Sweeney was set to star in a remake.

Now, according to Deadline, the Barbarella remake is in talks with Wright to direct. Jane Goldman and Honey Ross are also being eyed to co-write the script. Wright has reportedly been interested in the project for a while, even meeting with Sweeney shortly after it was initially announced, though he only committed to developing it as a potential directing opportunity.

Everything That Was Just Revealed About The Barbarella Remake

What To Know About The Director & Co-Writers

Though much remains unknown about the updated version, if Wright signs on as director, the Barbarella remake should feature the fast-paced and kinetic visual style the filmmaker is known for. The director previously dabbled in the sci-fi genre with The World's End, the third and final installment in his Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy. The fact that Goldman is being eyed as a co-writer is also a sign that the studio is serious about turning Barbarella into a successful film franchise.

As a screenwriter, Goldman has a track record of launching successful franchises in her collaborations with director Matthew Vaughn, including the X-Men reboot, Kick-Ass, and Kingsman. After the Barbarella remake was announced, Sweeney starred in Anyone But You in December 2023, and the romantic comedy ended up overperforming at the box office, grossing over $220 million worldwide on its mid-sized $25 million budget. This largely solidified Sweeney as a bankable star at the box office following her Emmy-nominated performances in HBO's Euphoria and The White Lotus.

Wright is currently in deep development on The Running Man remake with Sweeney's Anyone But You co-star Glen Powell. Sweeney also has a busy schedule herself, recently signing on to a Christy Martin biopic and Euphoria season 3 ​​​​​​finally filming in 2025. Though the Barbarella remake won't be Sweeney or Wright's next project, it appears the studio is fast-tracking the star vehicle following the success of Anyone But You, and with a visually dynamic director in talks, the remake has a chance of recreating, or even outclassing the original's entertaining visuals.

Barbarella (1968) is available to rent/buy on digital platforms.

Why Sydney Sweeney Is Perfect for Barbarella

Sydney Sweeney Has Been Oversexualized Throughout Her Young Career

Getting her breakout role on the Netflix show Everything Sucks!, Sweeney has been in the industry for several years now. It was not until more recently, however, that she was launched into a new level of stardom. Following her success on the shows Euphoria and The White Lotus, Sweeney recently had roles not only in Anyone But You, but in Madame Web and Immaculate as well. Between Barbarella, Euphoria season 3, and the Christy Martin biopic, it is clear that her active career is not slowing down.

Though her 2024 roles are allowing her to break out from this trend a bit, Sweeney has been a highly sexualized actress in her career thus far. This sexualization mainly comes from Euphoria, where Cassie’s body is emphasized by the creators. Cassie, and by extension Sweeney herself, is looked at as a sex object in the show. While this is a hard barrier for a young actress to overcome, it is nonetheless part of her image.

This aspect of Sweeney’s reputation makes her kind of perfect for Barbarella. In the original film, Fonda is not just a traveler, but a sexy, seductive and scantily clad astronaut. This sexualization is done in an over-the-top manner, making almost a mockery of it. If this lavish sexuality is elevated and worked with in the Wright-Sweeney version, there is a meta-level in which Barbarella can succeed at both subverting aspects of the original film and lampooning Sweeney herself and her audience.

When Will Barbarella Be Released?

Wright And Sweeney Have Busy Schedules...

Both Wright and Sweeney have several projects coming up that may disrupt the progress on Barbarella. In addition to The Running Man, Wright is also reportedly in development on a film called The Chain. Sweeney is working on Euphoria season 3, which keeps delaying production, the Christy Martin biopic, and films called Echo Valley and Eden. The prospective Barbarella collaborators are keeping busy in the upcoming months, which could potentially delay progress on this movie.

Combined with their busy schedules, Wright has typically needed several years between his films. The last feature films Wright directed were Last Night in Soho and the documentary The Sparks Brothers, both of which were released in 2021. Before that, his previous two films were Baby Driver in 2017 and The World’s End in 2013. This suggests that he has typically needed at least three years between projects. With The Running Man still to go, Wright’s pace suggests the director’s version of Barbarella may not arrive until 2027 or later.

Source: Deadline