The Running Man Director’s Other Sci-Fi Remake Gets New Update (Is It Still Happening?)

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So, as a huge Edgar Wright fan, I was really excited when I heard he was tackling a new version of The Running Man. But did you know that before that, he’d already committed to directing a Barbarella remake? It’s been in the works since 2022, with Sydney Sweeney set to play the iconic role. Honestly, with all the work on The Running Man over the last year, we haven’t heard much about Barbarella lately. But Wright just gave a little peek behind the curtain about how he’s planning to approach it, and fans like me are definitely eager to hear more – and hopefully get a release date soon!

While on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, director Edgar Wright discussed his ideas for a potential Barbarella movie. He said he’d aim for a closer adaptation of the original comic books, explaining his fondness for the 1968 film, which he saw at a young age. He praised the original script by Terry Southern, noting its distinctive style and moments of brilliance, and described both the film and the source material as visually stunning, playful, and forward-thinking.

Will Edgar Wright’s Barbarella Still Happen?

Edgar Wright’s use of the word “if” suggests his plans for a Barbarella adaptation are still developing. While some groundwork has been laid, the project isn’t fully finalized and there’s no set production schedule yet. This may be partly due to Wright’s busy schedule – his work on The Running Man previously limited his time for Barbarella. With his recent film now released, he can focus on his next project. Writers Jane and Honey Goldman were brought on to collaborate on the script, and likely had to wait for Wright to become available before making significant progress.

It’s worth watching to see how audiences react to The Running Man, especially considering its potential effect on the upcoming release of Barbarella. The Running Man, which premiered earlier this month, received mostly positive but mixed reviews – it actually has the lowest score on Rotten Tomatoes of director Wright’s career – and didn’t perform well in theaters. It only made $16.4 million domestically during its opening weekend, which is a letdown given its $110 million budget. With major blockbusters like Wicked: For Good and Zootopia 2 now in theaters, The Running Man is unlikely to stay popular for long and is already losing viewers.

As a fan, I keep thinking about how tricky a Barbarella remake could be. It feels like Sony might get hesitant after seeing how The Running Man did – even if Barbarella wasn’t going to cost a huge $110 million, it’s still a space adventure with lots of different planets, so it wouldn’t be cheap to do right. Things are different now than in 1968 when the original came out – audiences expect a lot more visually, so a reboot would need a big budget to look good. Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim cost $85 million, and that gives you an idea of the scale we’re talking about. Honestly, I’m not sure if Sony will trust Wright with another sci-fi remake after The Running Man didn’t quite hit the mark. He’s got a dedicated following, but he hasn’t always been a guarantee at the box office.

Sydney Sweeney recently gave an optimistic update about a potential Barbarella movie, mentioning discussions about the story and script. However, her recent film, the sports biopic Christy, performed very poorly at the box office, earning only $1.3 million domestically during its opening weekend – one of the worst debuts ever. While Sweeney is still a well-liked actress with several upcoming projects, it’s unclear if she has the star power to consistently draw audiences to theaters. Barbarella isn’t as well-known as properties from Marvel or DC, so Sony is hoping Sweeney’s involvement will attract viewers. She’s also an executive producer on the film, giving her some creative control, but ultimately, Sony will decide whether Barbarella gets made.

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2025-11-25 23:11