McGowan: 'I'm still Barbarella'

Rose McGowan has revealed she is still signed on to play the lead role in the upcoming Barbarella remake.

It was reported that Universal dropped the sci-fi film from its production schedule because it didn't feel the Grindhouse actress could carry a big budget blockbuster.

"[The news that I was out] was really irritating because I know all the people over there and obviously it wasn't true. It was very malicious and there was no proof," McGowan told MTV. "Oftentimes these things have basis in truth but this didn't. I have contracts to prove it."

Rumours claimed that the studio was hoping to convince director Robert Rodriguez to recast the role with Halle Berry, Nicole Kidman or Jessica Alba, but the helmer was insistent on using his fiancée McGowan.

The film's executive producer Dino De Laurentiis, who worked on the original, was quoted as saying that Rodriguez's "vision is blurred by Rose".

McGowan, who said the movie will be delayed because of the potential SAG strike, added: "Half of the sets have been built. The costumes are done.

"[I've] even got my spaceships. I've got part of a spaceship built for me!"