Rodriguez to direct 'Barbarella'

Remake written by 'Casino's' Purvis, Wade

The "Planet Terror" helmer is working with scribes Neal Purvis and Robert Wade on the remake of the 1968 film starring Jane Fonda as a futuristic mercenary. That version was produced by Dino De Laurentiis, who is producing the remake with Martha De Laurentiis.

Barbarella first appeared seven years earlier in a French comicbook written and illustrated by Jean-Claude Forest. De Laurentiis recently completed an acquisition deal with his son Julien (Daily Variety, April 12).

"I love this iconic character and all that she represents, and I'm truly excited by the challenge of inviting a new audience into her universe," Rodriguez said.

Dino De Laurentiis hinted at the flavor of the remake: "In our vision, the future is female, and I can't wait to introduce 'Barbarella' to a new generation of moviegoers," he said.

Purvis and Wade co-wrote "Casino Royale" and recently finished scripting the next installment in the Bond franchise, "Bond 22."