Edgar Wright in Talks to Direct Sydney Sweeney in ‘Barbarella’
The ‘Last Night in Soho’ and ‘Scott Pilgrim’ director is now in line to tackle the new adaptation of the offbeat sci-fi story, which will star Sweeney.
(Left) Writer/Director Edgar Wright on the set of their film 'Last Night in Soho' (Right) Jane Fonda in 1968's 'Barbarella.' Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Preview:
- Edgar Wright has entered talks to make a new ‘Barbarella’.
- Sydney Sweeney is aboard to star.
- The 1968 movie starred Jane Fonda.
It would seem that teaming up with one ‘Anyone But You’ star is simply not enough for acclaimed genre director Edgar Wright. Because, following on from news last month that he’s landed Glen Powell to star in his new adaptation of ‘The Running Man’, word arrives via Deadline that he’s now in talks to tackle the fresh take on ‘Barbarella’, which has Sydney Sweeney in the lead.
What’s the story of ‘Barbarella’?
1968's 'Barbarella.' Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Jean-Claude Forest created the character of Barbarella for serialization in the French ‘V Magazine’ in spring 1962, and in 1964 Éric Losfeld published these strips as a stand-alone book titled ‘Barbarella’. The book caused a scandal and became known as the first “adult” comic for its stories of an emancipated, independent woman who embraced her sexuality.
Roger Vadim directed a 1968 movie adaptation that follows an astronaut from the 41st century (played by Jane Fonda in full sex siren mode) who sets out to find and stop the evil scientist Durand Durand, whose Positronic Ray threatens to bring evil back into the galaxy.
There are sex machines. There are vibrant colors. It’s quite a trip. It didn’t however, set passions aflame at the box office.
Related Article: ‘Euphoria’s Sydney Sweeney will be Barbarella in a New Adaptation of the Sci-Fi Movie
Who is making the new ‘Barbarella’?
Sydney Sweeney in 'Immaculate.' Photo: Neon.
Wright, a veteran of movies such as ‘Shaun of the Dead’, ‘Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World’ and ‘Last Night in Soho’ has looked to develop a new take on the ‘Barbarella’ story for a while now and is finally committing to work with Sony and Sweeney on it.
The studio has Jane Goldman –– a veteran of the 'Kingsman' movies and ‘X-Men: First Class’ and her daughter, Honey Ross –– in talks to write the script for the new movie.
It won’t happen for a while, though, as Sweeney is an actor in demand and Wright is deep into pre-production on ‘The Running Man’ himself.
Talking of…
The Running Man
Follows a man who joins a game show in which contestants, allowed to go anywhere in the world, are chased by "Hunters" employed to kill them. Read the Plot
What’s happening with ‘The Running Man’?
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Captain Benjamin "Ben" Richards in 'The Running Man.'
As we mentioned, Wright has been developing an updated take on the scathing, violent sci-fi story originally penned by Stephen King (in his days using the Richard Bachman pseudonym) that was first brought to screens in 1987 starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
It’s the story of a dystopian society where criminals –– and those the state wishes to punish/kill –– are forced to participate in a deadly game show where they go up against “champions” who earn money for the most creative kills. A police officer falsely accused of a crime is the latest “runner” sent to try his luck in the game.
The Schwarzenegger film, though, didn’t really faithfully adapt the book, so Wright is going to skew more towards it.
The Running Man
When will ‘Barbarella’ be in theaters?
We’ll certainly have to wait for this one, since Sweeney has already lined up a biopic of boxer Christy Martin and a thriller called ‘The Caretaker’.
Jane Fonda in 1968's 'Barbarella.' Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Other Edgar Wright Movies:
- 'A Fistful of Fingers' (1995)
- 'Shaun of the Dead' (2004)
- 'Hot Fuzz' (2007)
- 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World' (2010)
- 'The World's End' (2013)
- 'Baby Driver' (2017)
- 'The Sparks Brothers' (2021)
- 'Last Night in Soho' (2021)
Buy Edgar Wright Movies on Amazon
