With aSydney Sweeney-starring remake ofBarbarellaon the horizon, there’s never been a better time to watch the psychedelic 1968 original. This month, Paramount+ has you covered. The streamer will add theJane Fondacult classic to its library starting August 21, 2025.
Based on the French comics character created byJean-Claude Forestin 1962,Barbarellawas directed byRoger Vadim(And God Created Woman), Fonda’s then-husband. She wasn’t the first choice for the part, which was offered toBrigitte BardotandSophia Lorenfirst.The film’s production was chaotic; a total of fourteen writers worked on the script, while Vadim started drinking heavily, which eventually led to the breakup of his marriage with Fonda. The film was also shot concurrently withDanger: Diabolik, another European comics adaptation produced byDino De Laurentiis. However, despite the tumult of its production, the film became a hit thanks to its carefree sexuality, its eye-popping production design, and Fonda’s bewitching performance as the titular galactic ingénue.
What Is ‘Barbarella’ About?
Set in the distant future, Fonda plays Barbarella, a space-faring adventurer. The President of Earth sends her to a distant planet to find Durand Durand (Milo O’Shea,Theatre of Blood), a scientist who created the deadly positronic ray – and yes, Durand Durand is the namesake of 1980s pop superstarsDuran Duran. Along the way, she encounters a number of bizarre characters, including the tyrannical Black Queen (Anita Pallenberg, a model and longtime associate of theRolling Stones); Pygar (John Phillip Law,The Golden Voyage of Sinbad), a blind angel who can no longer fly; and the brilliant Professor Ping (famous mimeMarcel Marceau, in his first speaking role). After escaping Durand Durand’s Excessive Machine – a contraption designed to kill her with pleasure – Barbarella gets drawn into a planetary rebellion. Of course, the plot of the film doesn’t matter all that much – the film kicks off with a zero-gravity striptease, setting the tone for a wild, campy ride into an extremely 1960s vision of the far future.
There have been numerous attempts to remakeBarbarellain the intervening years.Robert Rodriguezwas attached to the project for several years, withRose McGowanset to star in the title role. Eventually, they both left the project andRobert Luketic(Legally Blonde) came aboard, withAnne Hathawayrumored for the lead; however, nothing came of that, either. A TV series directed byNicholas Winding Refnwas also mooted. However, the current remake seems to be on track, with the ubiquitous Sweeney set to star, andEdgar Wrightsigned to direct from a script byBlake Northcott.
Barbarellawillstream on Paramount+ starting July 28, 2025. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.
