Who Should Play the New Barbarella?


As Robert Luketic nudges Robert Rodriguez out of the picture to helm the rebooted sex-and-space epic Barbarella, we can't help but remember that Hollywood rarely knows how to cast a woman as the lead in a big action film (witness the perpetually thwarted development of Wonder Woman as lesser comic book heroes get their big-screen moment). It's in that spirit, then, that Movieline has stepped in to narrow down the potential casting pool. Who's up to filling out Jane Fonda's skintight spacesuit?

The Definite Nos:

Now that Rodriguez is off the project, the muse he tried to lobby into the lead, Rose McGowan, is out of contention. Instead, producers will likely approach a mix of A-listers and recognizable up-and-comers (as opposed to McGowan, who's made herself near-unrecognizable as of late). One name likely to be off that wish list? Reese Witherspoon, who Luketic famously clashed with during the making of Legally Blonde.

The "Too Old" By Hollywood Standards:

Luketic worked with Fonda herself on Monster-in-Law, and her matchup with Jennifer Lopez in that film might have earned Lopez a Barbarella nod but for one thing: she's about to turn forty, and Hollywood would never entrust a budding action franchise to a female star out of her twenties. The same criteria would likely disqualify Drew Barrymore, once bandied about for the role, as well as her fellow Angel Cameron Diaz. Angelina Jolie is the youngest in this field at 33, and she's proven that she's the rare actress who can open an action film, but we have a hunch that producers will go younger

The Likely Offers:

So who's likely to be at the top of the casting heap? Potentially, the actress considered to be Jolie's young doppleganger, Megan Fox (a plus: looks good in ridiculous sci-fi costumes!). Scarlett Johansson has shied away from films where she's the unambiguous lead, but she's certainly got the right look, and she's started edging closer to Barbarella territory with roles in The Spirit and Iron Man 2. Meanwhile, Anne Hathaway's shown a willingness to doff her clothes onscreen, but if she balks at that outer-space strip scene, producers will no doubt call on the two Jessicas who've already played exotic dancers: Jessica Alba and Jessica Biel.

The Dark Horses:

Mamma Mia's Amanda Seyfried is one of Hollywood's newest, most castable ingenues, but her restrictive Big Love schedule has already forced her to drop out of Zack Snyder's Sucker Punch. If producers want a real unknown, they'll pluck blond bombshell Alice Eve (Starter for 10) from across the pond. But we have a hunch that Luketic may surprise everyone and reunite with the leading lady he's used on his last two films: Katherine Heigl. Shonda Rhimes, the fate of an entire sci-fi franchise may be in your hands.



Comments

  • Juancho says:

    -I would kill to see Eva Green in this role.
    -Ditto for Camilla Belle.
    -Kat Dennings might me a good choice, but with RR off the project, it sinks that...
    -I still think Drew looks good for the part. So would Charlize.
    -(just slightly older) lesser-known: Ashley Scott
    How I see this actually ending up: stuck in development hell for 5 more years, then finally going into production with Dakota Fanning or AnnaSophia Robb in the title role. After principal has commenced, Evan Rachel Wood crashes the Late Show with Jimmy Fallon set in full Barbarella costume, demanding to know why she wasn't cast.

  • Dhppy says:

    Since this will probably suck, shouldn't they settle on an actress who's prescient enough to know her career should go out on a splashy dead end? That pretty much leaves porn stars.

  • NoWireHangers says:

    Tyler Perry.

  • stolidog says:

    This role just screams Ellen Page, don't you think?

  • Neelyo says:

    Katherine Heigl has the sex appeal of a soccer mom.

  • Aaron says:

    Katherine Heigl is the most beautiful and sexy of all the women mention there..so she gets my vote. Great actress too.

  • Kelly says:

    Heigl would hardly be a surprise.

  • Furious D says:

    Why even discuss it? They're probably just going to give it to Shia LaBeouf anyway.
    :p

  • Inhaler says:

    Christian Siriano would make a fierce Barbarella.

  • Erin says:

    In all seriousness, Ludivine Sagnier.
    She's hot, talented, French, and in the tradition of European Actresses playing trashy comic book heroines (think Monica Vitti in "Modesty Blaise"), speaks in perfect Broken English. If she were cast, I would be first in line for the 12:01 am showing!

  • James says:

    If they want to go with new blood for the New Barbarella movie why dont they look in to these young ladys. Emma Watson, Tiffany Thornton, Josie Loren. Alison Lohman allready did nude in were the truth lies.Michelle Trachtenberg,Kirsten Dunst,The young lady from the bath tub in Slither, Brittany Snow, Lindsey Haun, Diane Kruger, Danielle Harris, Kimberlee Peterson, Lacey Chabert, Emma Roberts, Moon Bloodgood, Mischa Barton. I would pick from one of these young ladys for they are all Hot Hot Hot & great to look at and watch on the tv. I feel they all could hold there own as a leading lady in a big movie.

  • Johnny says:

    Wait a couple of years and go for Dakota Fanning.

  • James says:

    Lets give the role to you Kelly. You are the only girl to be replying so you should get the role.

  • bookie says:

    Dakota Fanning now!!! its time for new meat

  • Britt says:

    Okay Okay.. so I personally think that Dakota Fanning should not play Barbarella!
    or Jessica Biel or Jessica Alba because they are horrible actresses!
    Well I think Mary Elizabeth Winstead is my first choice.
    Then I think Alice Eve is my second choice!
    wooo! reply back to my comment!

  • RON says:

    Megan as the sexy Black queen, please no angelina!. keep barbarella as a sexy blond, maybe Lohan (24 yrs) if she tones up or Jamie King(31yrs). and stay under early thirties ...