Editorials > Adios, Barbarella?

Admitedly, a $100 million budget to remake the role that Jane Fonda crafted in Barbarella sounds impressive. It sounds like the sort of heavy effects, sound stage laden piece that director Robert Rodriguez co-developed on developed for Sin City. Universal studios was behind the idea for a while, and there was even word original producer Dino De Laurentiis would return to see his baby reborn.

Then came the snafu of Rodriguez casting genre-queen Rose McGowan, whom he had met during Planet Terror, left his wife (and kids!) for, and now plans to marry. 

Who said "Old Hollywood" is dead?

After all, wasn't Jane Fonda married to Roger Vadim, the original director of Barbarella? So what made Universal so afraid this time around?

The New York Observer found out it was equal parts budget–and especially McGowan.

“It’s sort of embarrassing for everyone involved,” the source said. “No one thinks Rose can carry the movie, but Robert won’t listen.”

The film’s executive producer, Dino De Laurentiis, an Academy Award winner who produced Mr. Vadim’s Barbarella, is keeping mum on the matter, the source said. “He’s technically independent but has a strong connection to Universal. He wants to back Robert and his vision. But Robert’s vision is blurred by Rose.”

Rodriguez defends the issue as a monetary one, telling the Observer that Universal originally agreed to the film for a $60 million budget, but then he realized it would clock in at $80 million. He even chides–not by name–the upcoming Will Ferrel Land of the Lost that had been cut down from $130 mil to $100 million. Costly? Sure, but it shows that Universal is willing to give faith to some bankable stars and not scream queens.

And despite the source's say so, Rodriguez claims Uni execs were "blown over" by McGowan's screen test. But this is coming from her fiancée, and the same source says that Rodriguez can't get his eyes past certain parts of McGowan to actually see her acting. Ouch.

We're a little torn here too. On one hand, if you've ever seen the original Barbarella, it is rude, crude and hilariously fun. Not to mention it gave birth to Duran Duran. McGowan's proven her chops on self-referential humor on Charmed and even in Planet Terror. 

So why not repeat the original, have the two marry and make Barbarella again? 

(Just…don't bleach her hair. Please. ) 

(via SciFi Scanner, SciFi Wire)