Last August, it was all but assured that “Grindhouse” babe Rose McGowan was set to star as the title character, an ultra-hot space vixen, in Robert Rodriguez’s remake of “Barbarella.”
Or so we thought.
Because soon came the budget disputes. And the posturing. And the claims that Universal didn’t want McGowan at all, preferring instead a bigger name actress like Jessica Alba or Nicole Kidman.
Turns out, we got it right the first time, McGowan insisted, telling MTV News that she was still very much signed on to play the lead in the upcoming film.
“[The news that I was out] was really irritating because I know all the people over there and obviously it wasn’t true. It was very malicious and there was no proof,” McGowan said of the rumors. “Oftentimes these things have basis in truth but this didn’t. I have contracts to prove it.”
Not just the contracts, either, but sets and costumes, and a whole “lot of pre-production work,” McGowan revealed, hinting that the flick is actually quite a bit further along than previously speculated.
“Half of the sets have been built. The costumes are done,” the actress confessed, adding with a laugh that she’s “even got my spaceships. I’ve got part of a spaceship built for me!”
At the moment, in fact, the only impediment to filming isn’t the actress in the lead – but all those other actresses everywhere else.
“[‘Barbarella’] wouldn’t be able to be finished before June which is when the next strike might happen,” McGowan said of delays in the face of a possible SAG strike. “It’s a longer shoot.”
The original movie followed Jane Fonda as she roamed the galaxy fighting evil and looking really, really sexy.
McGowan, for one, can’t wait to step into those knee-high boots, calling herself a big “fan of the original.”
Any pressure to live up to the legend?
“The original doesn’t have a lot to go on plot-wise. It’s one thing to do a remake of something that could have been much better storywise even if it was fantastic visually. It’s another thing to remake something flawless,” McGowan said. “That way if yours isn’t that good at least yours is better than that one.”
What do you think? Will McGowan’s “Barbarella” be “better than that one” (the original)? Was she the right choice all-along? Are you glad she’s re-confirmed? Sound off below.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Thank God it is not gonna be Jessica Alba. If She were to play the role the movie would be PG-rated. One of the most important things in the original was the nudity… Jessica Alba does not do nudity. They made a huge deal about how Frank Miller’s Sin City stuck to the graphic Novel, but they broke down when it came to Jessica Alba’s nude scenes… here’s an idea, let her do all the non-nude roles she wants. Just do not consider her for roles involving nudity.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Not to mention, Jessica Alba is a horrible actress.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
We share a last name but the @*?$# don’t act!!!!
April 11th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
I think this is great news, I was hoping they hadn’t axed the project.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Wow, its bad enough that they’re remaking the film, but now she’s insulting it too. If their story is so superior to the original, why don’t they make their OWN film instead of sullying the name of a classic.
April 13th, 2008 at 5:54 am
Collin, I didn’t really interpret Rose as putting down Jane Fonda’s movie.
The plot WAS kinda spacey and thin aired. heehee
I for one look forward to a better story line and special effects. I just hope they keep some of the campiness and fun that the original possessed.
The original comic has alot to pick from story-wise.
If anything begs for an updated remake, (Unlike many of the other remakes these days) it’s Barbarella.
April 13th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Hey, it’s Rodriquez, so there will probably be a lot of campiness and fun left.
April 13th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
someone is advertising for an online site called “Bla ckWhi teMin gle . c o m “. It’s only a community for meeting black beauties, not for white women.
you need to stop.. BlackWhiteMingle is a controvercial site asking black women to seek rich white men!
April 14th, 2008 at 2:05 am
I think Rose is actually perfect for the role. I didn’t even know they were re-making it. I hope they don’t change the plot too much, because what is awesome about the original is how supremely bad it is. It is amazing. I am excited about a re-make though, and I can’t think of anyone better for it than her.
April 14th, 2008 at 7:50 am
I’m sorry but Rose is a bad choice.Barbarella is supposed to be innocent and unaware of her own sexuality,Rose does not fit the bill.Rachael McAdams or Kate Beckinsale would have been my choice.What a shame,the original is one of my favorite movies ever.
April 14th, 2008 at 8:08 am
Oh I LOVE Rachael McAdams . Great idea Collin.
But I wouldn’t blame Rose McGowan for not having the naivete that the character is supposed to have. That’s the writer and director. This woman can act. I think Rose can pull off the innocence that you’re talking about. I hope the writer and director go this route.
April 22nd, 2008 at 5:06 pm
I’m french and I think that McGowan is really good for this remake. I mean she is a good actress and not very famous though a lot of people know her face (and her body). If they wanted someone more famous that wouldn’t have fit with the character! After all, Jane Fonda wasn’t famous before Barbarella I think…and I think that it may be a chance for Rose McGowan to be re-discovered as a pretty good and sexy cinema actress even if she was quit good in Charmed (but I thought she was over-acting sometimes and it will be perfect for playing Barbarella)
April 30th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
I have every bit of Barbarella work Jean Claude Forest ever published, even though I can’t read French language. I have collected quite a massive lot of Fonda/Barbarella items, from posters to keychains, and I’ve seen the movie hundreds of times. Yes, I am a Barbarella fan to the core… and even I can admit the shortcomings of the original film.
Barbarella seemed to have no defense against any attacker in the film, and her only offense was her over-the-top sexuality. That was the punchline to me… her basic vulnerability and naive nature!! Rose McGowan can play it well, I have no doubt! The only other actress I’ve ever felt strongly could’ve aced the role, though it would have been almost incestuous, would have been Bridget Fonda in her prime. The casting of the Black Queen, who I understand will be played by Shania Twain, seems more suspect to me! I’d rather see someone like Catherine Zeta Jones do it.
Hopefully Rodriguez will draw more of the movie plot from some of the other J.C. Forest works, such as the Barbarella appearances in HEAVY METAL magazine or the “Moon Child” storyline.
Yes…to me, Rose McGowan is a perfect choice for Barbarella despite the personal relationship with the director. When I originally heard that Britney Spears, then Drew Barrymore, and worst of all Lindsay Lohan, were going to play Barbarella… I cringed!!! As for Jessica Alba, she has The Invisible Woman keeping her busy, and I’d much rather see her play the role of Michael Turner’s FATHOM when they finally get around to making it into a movie; Halle Berry is both Catwoman and Storm already; and despite Nicole Kidman’s likeness to Jane, her similar likeness to Elizabeth Montgomery didn’t help her with the Samantha role in “Bewitched” now, did it?
I say give Rosie a chance, and if you haven’t seen her in “The Doom Generation” then I can understand all the concern. That movie will someday be a camp classic on par with Vadim’s Barbarella, and we’ll all be wondering who will play the McGowan role in a remake!!
Keep fighting for it Rob & Rosie!! I can already feel the anticipation for “Barbara: Queen of the Galaxy” growing!!
April 30th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
I think that rose is really hot, I also think that she can most definatly pull off the role of barbarella… you go ROSE !!!
May 8th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
it’s time for another barbarella.
there’s actually a vh1 documentary about the sexual revolution coming out. they spend some time talking about barbarella. who knew how important it was?
good clip here…
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5496846019851465864&q=barbarella+sex+vh1&ei=cVEjSNulI5K8rwKp2rSyAg&hl=en