Will Barbarella seduce audiences in zero gee once more?

11 August 2009

John Howell

Remember Jane Fonda undressing in zero gravity in the opening titles of the provocative, highly stimulating 1968 science fiction movie Barbarella? I certainly do. It appears a remake of the original movie is now on the cards, courtesy of producer Dino De Laurentiis. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the veteran Italian filmmaker (he recently turned 90) wants the iconic character to be restyled for a modern audience.

Barbarella is a female mercenary who roams the universe. She's fearless, sexual, and ingenious whenever needed. One of her missions, given to her by the President of Earth, is to find the Doctor Durand Durand from the planet SoGo in order to save the earth from destruction. Interestingly, this is where the UK band Duran Duran got its name.

The original movie features lots of erotic situations, questionable dialogue, and plenty of footage to trouble the censors (especially back then). The Barbarella character originally appeared in a 1962 French graphic magazine written and illustrated by Jean-Claude Forest.

Joe Gazzam will write the screenplay and the Australian Robert Luketic (The Ugly Truth) will direct.

Apparently in this new version the campness will be minimised, the sexuality retained, but the main focus will be on Barbarella's adventures.

Kate Winslet as Barbarella perhaps? The original movie turned Jane Fonda into an international sex symbol.

You can watch the zero gravity undressing bit courtesy of YouTube below.