Rodriguez, McGowan team for 'Red Sonja'

Rex Features

Robert Rodriguez and Rose McGowan will reunite for comic book remake Red Sonja, reports USA Today.

McGowan's character, created by Robert E. Howard in 1934, is a flame-haired sword and sorcery heroine described by Rodriguez as "whip-smart... sexy and extremely strong".

"I was surprised when Rose brought me a script of Red Sonja that she liked," Rodriguez said. "I found it very entertaining. Sonja was strong, smart, cunning - just about everything she'd have to be to survive."

Rodriguez will act as the film's producer with Douglas Aarniokoski (Highlander: Endgame) directing.

Rodriguez and McGowan, a couple in real life, previously worked together on Grindhouse and plan to make a new version of Barbarella.

Red Sonja was the basis for an unsuccessful 1985 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Brigitte Nielsen.