Some information regarding Nu Image/Millenium Films’ upcoming remake of Red Sonja has been purveyed, including cast, crew, and even a little glimpse at where the story will go.
Starring in the movie will be Rose McGowan as Red Sonja, the She-Witch with a sword. Helming this one will be Douglas Aarniokoski and it’s being penned by David White. McGowan’s significant other, Robert Rodriguez, is presenting and helping to produce the movie along with Avi Lerner, Boaz Davidson, Joe Gatta, and George Furla. Executive Producers include Danny Dimbort, Trevor Short, Luke Lieberman and Nick Barrucci.
Here is the official synopsis directly from Nu Image/Millenium Films:
In her return we find Red Sonja, a young girl risen from the ashes of tragedy to become the most feared woman warrior of all time. The mythical red-head blindly seeks vengeance on those who destroyed her family. In her path of destruction she discovers a larger purpose for her unearthly powers: to save all Hyrkania from the villainous Kulan Gath.
I myself am not very familiar with the story, but it seems like the basic story is that Sonja’s family was killed when she was young and she was raped and left ashamed. Then one day, a goddess arrived and gave Sonja extremely powerful and deadly skills with a sword and other weapons so that she may seek revenge, so long as she never be with a man unless he was able to beat her in a fair fight. The 1985 film seemed to use this basis and it looks like the new version will probably run along these lines as well.
For those of you unfamiliar with the story, Red Sonja is about a fiery red-headed barbarian warrior woman who was created in a story by Robert E. Howard and later adapted into the world of Marvel Comics by Roy Thomas in an issue of Conan the Barbarian (which is also being remade by Millenium Films). She’s since been seen in her own comic series — previously with Marvel Comics and currently with Dynamite Entertainment — TV show, and the 1985 movie starring Brigitte Nielsen as Sonja and Govn’a Arnold Schwarzenegger as Lord Kalidor.
I just don’t know if I see this working out positively. As with Barbarella, I don’t know if McGowan is able to lead a movie, although this sounds like a much more fitting role for her. I think it will be interesting if she does indeed land the role of Barbarella as it would mean we could see these two lead roles guided by two directors at completely different ends of the spectrum; my guess is the differences would be evident. Maybe it will be a good time, I guess we can only wait and see. I can’t help but to think of something like Aeon Flux when I hear about this, and that had friggin’ Charlize Theron in the lead.
As far as remakes go, I have have few problems with this one, if any.
[...] The news about the film, based on the character created by Robert E. Howard, was announced last month (see ‘Red Sonja’ Moves Forward With Rose McGowan). [...]