So Barbarella is one of the best things there is. For those who don’t know it’s a sci-fi film from 1968 based on a french comic from 1962. It’s awesome. Jane Fonda plays a space adventurer who explores a foreign planet and looks damn good doing it. It’s similar to Buffy The Vampire Slayer in that it portrays women as strong and powerful, but without reducing sexuality and personality from the characters. In essence, both Barbarella and Buffy say that ladies don’t have to be like dudes to be powerful and awesome. I’m a big fan of that message. I’m also a big fan of the movie. I’m also a big fan of Nicholas Winding Refn (Drive, Only God Forgives). Now I learn that he is executive producing a Barbarella series that will be released on Amazon! This is wonderful news!
There aren’t many available details about the plot of the show, but one can safely assume it will stay close to the roots of the original. Refn is notorious for his love of older B-movieesque fare, so I don’t think he’d want to change much. While there is no clear showrunner in place yet, the pilot has been put together by the writers of Skyfall (and four other Bond movies) Neal Purvis and Robert Wade. Refn will also be working in tandem with Martha De Laurentiis the widow of Barbarella’s original producer Dino De Laurentiis. It is unclear whether Refn will direct this series at all, or will just get the talent together. Either way, having one of my favorite filmmakers put a new spin on one of my favorite old movies is some pretty excellent business.
Source: Deadline
