Why Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Could Rock Hollywood
'Euphoria' star challenges conventional wisdom ... will industry embrace her charms?
Sydney Sweeney’s rise to stardom has been nothing short of staggering.
She embraces her sexuality in an era where such confidence is often met with criticism, even opposition.
Sweeney first captured the world’s attention as Cassie Howard in HBO’s “Euphoria.” Amidst a cast of compelling characters, Sweeney’s portrayal of a troubled teenager with a penchant for the dramatic stood out.
While her co-star Zendaya played the introspective, troubled Rue with a rawness that earned her critical acclaim, Sweeney’s Cassie embodied sensuality and sex appeal.
Sweeney’s Cassie became an icon of unapologetic femininity.
And Sweeney leaned into her image.
She broke away from the industry’s pathological desire to blur the line between male and female. Her curves and confidence set her apart, making her the epitome of classic sex appeal.
Even “Saturday Night Live” admitted the obvious.
Now, Sweeney is in talks to star in a remake of Jane Fonda’s “Barbarella,” the 1960s comic series known for its daring eroticism.
The project, long considered too controversial to revive, seems tailor-made for Sweeney. The character, a symbol of empowerment through sexuality, resonates with Sweeney’s journey.
Today’s Hollywood tends to sanitize female characters, trading sex appeal for kickass appeal. This shift often leads to the creation of female leads who are portrayed as fearsome warriors, a mold that doesn’t always resonate with audiences.
After all, most women want to be desired, not feared. Most men are drawn to desirable women, not those who induce dread.
Edgar Wright in Talks to Direct Sydney Sweeney’s Barbarella Remakehttps://t.co/lUTMfRzaae pic.twitter.com/3ANXH7hWcm
— ComicBook NOW! (@ComicBookNOW) May 13, 2024
“Barbarella,” released in 1968, stands apart from other science fiction films of its time primarily due to its unabashed sexuality. Directed by Roger Vadim, “Barbarella” was based on Jean-Claude Forest’s French comic series.
The film presented a unique blend of eroticism and sci-fi adventure, a combination that was virtually unheard of in mainstream cinema during the 1960s. The film’s aesthetic played a significant role in its distinctive identity.
Barbarella’s costumes were designed to highlight her sexuality, revealing outfits that were futuristic yet provocative. The film’s visual style, with its psychedelic and campy elements, further amplified its erotic charge.
Barbarella’s interactions, whether with alien creatures or human characters, often had an underlying sexual tension.
Fonda’s embrace of her sexuality more than 50 years ago was refreshing. Today, Sweeney’s embrace of her sexuality is similarly fresh.
The key to the reboot’s success lies in playing up Barbarella’s seductive charm rather than transforming her into a traditional action hero.
Barbarella is not Batman.
The failure of “Furiosa,” which tried to blend empowerment with action movie tropes, is a cautionary tale. It struggled because it lost sight of what audiences truly connect with—the authentic appeal and magnetism that characters like Barbarella exude.
Yet, the question remains: will Hollywood let her continue down the path of sexy subversion? In an industry that is constantly evolving (or devolving), the pressure to conform is immense.
The landscape is filled with executives and creatives who prioritize a very certain, carefully managed image, often at the expense of authenticity.
But if Sweeney has proven anything, it’s that she thrives on challenging Hollywood norms. Her involvement in “Barbarella” could prove to be more than just another role; it could prove to be a declaration of sorts, one that states sex appeal is something to be celebrated and endorsed.
Let women be women. Let real femininity, not feminism, lead the way.
Sweeney is, in many ways, a modern-day Marilyn Monroe.
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Monroe, the quintessential Hollywood sex symbol of the 1950s and early 1960s, embodied a blend of naivety and sensuality. Her roles often played on her sexual appeal, yet she brought depth and vulnerability to her work.
She could seduce, but she could also act. Similarly, Sweeney’s on-screen presence is a modern reflection of Monroe’s magnetism.
If Hollywood is smart, it will let Sweeney do what she does best: captivate audiences through sheer sexiness. Contrary to popular opinion, sex still sells.
Femininity will always be fashionable.
Buttaface!
Sweeney is no Marilyn Monroe. The suggestion she even might be close is laughable. Take one look at Marilyn’s face and figure, then look at Sweeney’s, then take a look at anything Monroe was in and anything Sweeney is in. If you can honestly say the are remotely comparable, you may need therapy.
Barbarella was a box-office bomb earning a meager $2.5 million in American theaters. It did better in Europe, which comes as no surprise. To compare, The Odd Couple coming out the same year, earned $18 million and had a much smaller budget. The success of Barbarella came later in re-releases and has been a sci-fi soft-porn lover’s dream. It comes as no surprise, given the sexual element, that this movie has a following and is in the works for a remake, nor is it surprising that Sweeney is one of the executive producers. In today’s market, with audiences more dimwitted than ever, I expect Naked Sweeney will do well at the box office.
If she comes out against the “Patriarchal Male Gaze Fetishizing Of The Costume”, it’ll flop just like the moron who played Snow White killed it by claiming Prince Charming was a “Stalker”. .If she glories in the aforementioned patriarchal costume and leads with HER TITS rather than her “acting” (which is pretty good btw) she’ll have a chance.
I’ll be sure to miss it.
I’m skeptical they will make this what it needs to be. It needs to appeal to men which Hollywood hates. She was no action hero in the original movie. If they turn her into a girl boss, this will tank.
I think the future is with indie productions. Studios are run by leftist idiots. Let them spend $300 million on failed movies and TV series. Let most streaming services die so less content is made. Focus on young indie studios that are hungry to make content and aren’t ruled by DEI doctrine.
It would be nice to see a movie where they don’t try to make us believe that a 110-pound woman can take out a squad of 10 240-pound muscular men with a series of perfectly-timed roundhouse kicks. To quote our illustrious president, “Come on, man!”
This remake sounds intriguing. A sci-fi flick with a hot, feminine babe? I’m in!
You and the Drinker are dolls. Hollywood is not in a panic over Furiosa. This soon after Barbie? Yea, I am sure they wetting their pants
Woke means non-binary, androgyny. They won’t let a woman be too sexy. Trans women can be sexy because they’re lady boys trying to pass as sexy women. While sexy hot women are in the background in favor of unattractive, fat, non-binary and butch lesbians given excessive priority. Sweeney is simply allowed to put aside Hollywood’s obsession for the non-traditional modern audience that never existed ANYWHERE. No one wants to see Lizzo.