Sydney Sweeney is on fire right now, and it’s the right time to move forward on a project she’s been attached to for a couple of years. Deadline reports that Edgar Wright is in talks to direct Sweeney in Sony’s remake of Barbarella.
Jane Goldman and Honey Ross are reportedly in talks to pen the screenplay, which could be a clue as to Sony’s plans for Barbarella. The 1968 original is a sci-fi comedy camp classic featuring Jane Fonda in arguably her most iconic performance.
Wright is best known for his “Cornetto Trilogy” (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World’s End) with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. But he’s directed some pretty big films since then, including Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Baby Driver, and Last Night in Soho.
Sony could have franchise expectations for Barbarella, and if that’s the case then Goldman is a smart choice. She has been joined at the hip with director Matthew Vaughn for years, writing X-Men: First Class, Kick-Ass, Stardust, and two Kingsman movies. She’ll be on the script for Kingsman 3, as well. Ross is Goldman’s daughter and a writer on the series Everything I Know About Love.
This is a major project for Sweeney, who is helping to guide it as a producer. She’s been active in developing projects for herself (such as Immaculate) and Barbarella is obviously something she’s passionate about. It also continues her working relationship with Sony, having worked with them previously on Anyone But You and Madame Web.