In 1968, Jane Fonda’s stardom skyrocketed due to her role in the sci-fi movie based on a classic French comic book called Barbarella. Directed by her then-husband Roger Vadi, it went on to become an iconic hit film with Fonda as its star. Now Hollywood is ready for another great remake of this beloved story; however instead of using the famous yet aging actress this time around they will be casting Euphoria star Sydney Sweeny who has also made appearances in Sharp Objects, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Everything Sucks! We can’t wait to see how she brings new life into one of our favorite films from decades past!
In October, news broke that a remake of Jane Fonda’s classic Barbarella was in the works. Sony Pictures will be partnering on production, however, details are scarce – no word yet as to who will serve as a director or other potential cast members besides Sydney Sweeny – but one thing is certain: Jane Fonda is far from thrilled about Hollywood attempting to overshadow her iconic role decades later!
In a discussion with the Hollywood Reporter, Jane Fonda candidly admitted her trepidation about the Barbarella remake – and for good reason. After all, she believes that it won’t be anywhere near as successful as when she was in the titular role herself!
“I try not to [think about it],” Fonda said. “Because I worry about what it’s going to be.”
Furthermore, Fonda was uncertain of how Sony Pictures would be capable of re-creating Barbarella with a feminist angle while featuring Sydney Sweeny (above). During the initial movie production, producers had no intention for it to be an activist piece. All they wanted from Fonda was to her appear attractive and demonstrate her physical strength in action sequences.
“I had an idea of how to do it that [original producer] Dino De Laurentiis when he was still alive, wouldn’t listen to,” she stated. “But it could have been a truly feminist movie.”
The iconic 1960s movie Barbarella, starring Jane Fonda as the eponymous character, takes place in a distant future. She is on a mission to find Dr. Durand Durand (portrayed by Milo O’Shea), who has invented an overly powerful Positronic Ray that would potentially wreak havoc across our planet if not stopped.
Despite the fact that Fonda’s initial flick wasn’t hugely successful when it came out in the 1960s, its cult following has increased exponentially due to her fame after she made errors during her Vietnam War visit.
Jane Fonda became an icon of the 1960s due to her iconic performance in Barbarella, and it was soon elevated to cult classic status. Over time, several attempts were made to revive this masterpiece – most notably, a sequel titled ‘Barbarella Goes Down’. Robert Rodriguez had agreed to take on directorial duties and Rose McGowan was set for one of the leading roles; however, ultimately it never came to fruition.
Will the Barbarella remake be a smash hit?
