According to Deadline, director Nicolas Winding Refn will be teaming up with Gaumont International Television and producer Martha De Laurentiis to bring the iconic character Barbarella to the small screen. For those unfamiliar with the character, she was created by Jean-Claude Forest in his graphic novel and then played by Jane Fonda in the 1968 sci-fi film.
Refn, who will direct and executive produce the series, calls Barbarella “one of the ultimate counter-cultural characters.” GIT CEO Katie O’Connell adds “we are thrilled to have secured the rights from the Forest estate and are thrilled to be pairing the bold visceral style of Nicolas Refn with the pop culture icon Barbarella.”
Though this seems like an odd pairing (Nicolas Winding Refn and the character of Barbarella), it may actually work out quite well. Admittedly, the director does have to be careful here as this project could easily end up being too kitchy and silly but if there’s anyone who pull it off, I think it’s Nicolas Winding Refn. He has a great vision behind the camera and I think this material could mesh well with his directing style.
Check out the trailer for the original film below and as we wait for more details on this project, check out some stills from Refn’s upcoming film, Only God Forgives.