Will a new version of Barbarella get under way this year?

Australian filmmaker Robert Luketic may be in the director’s chair if a “big budget” remake of Barbarella goes ahead. The project has also been linked to producer Dino De Laurentiis, in which case a “big intergalactic adventure with a sexy twist” is quite on the cards.

Luketic has some good work in his portfolio, including 21, Legally Blonde and Monster-in-Law. There was talk of a new Barbarella last year with Rose McGowan in the frame to take on the role made famous by Jane Fonda in the 1968 original.

That version was directed by Roger Vadim and based on the French Barbarella comics by Jean-Claude Forest. Another actress being considered for the main role is Erica Durance (photo) from the Smallville tv series.