Universal weren’t so keen on Rodriguez’s choice of his fiance Rose McGowan to lead the Barbarella remake, so the director and his muse have jumped ship to Milleniunm/New Image who have greenlit a new re-imagining of Red Sonja, the fantasy sword and sorcery heroine.

She is a character that exists in the same universe as their soon to be revived Conan property and will be an epic film on a similar scale. This project is further along than you might think as shooting is pencilled in for October according to Variety.

“Red Sonja” is based on the character created by Robert E. Howard and adapted for Marvel Comics by Roy Thomas. Story centers on a young girl overcoming tragedy to become the most feared woman warrior of all time as she seeks vengeance on those who destroyed her family and discovers a larger purpose for her unearthly powers.

Rodriguez ain’t directing this one, it will be Douglas Aarniokoski who in 2000 helmed the STV fantasy film Highlander: End Game but he is well known to Rodriguez having worked as assistant director with him on Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Spy Kids and The Faculty.

David White wrote the script, his first big studio deal.

Red Sonja has been made into a film before, with the 1985 Brigette Nielsen/Arnold Schwarzengger (yes he was Conan too) and was undoubteldy a Richard Fleischer production which is something of a cult favourite.

McGowan sure looks like Nielsen but is she talented enough to carry this movie in any other form than a camp B-movie version?