Will Kate step into Barbella's boots?

Kate Beckinsale is being tipped to fill the high boots and skimpy outfits of kitsch Sixties heroine Barbarella in a forthcoming remake of the cult flick.

Industry insiders say that the English-born actress , 34, daughter of the late comedy actor Richard, is among the frontrunners for the role of the sexy space explorer, made famous by Jane Fonda in the original 1968 movie.

The script is being penned by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, who wrote hit Bond film Casino Royale.

“Jane Fonda made the Barbarella role very much her own all those years ago and she’s bound to be a tough act to follow,” admits our man in Tinseltown.

“But the feeling is that Kate has just the right combination of beauty, humour and acting talent for the part.”

Beckinsale is also, usefully, not averse to wearing the sort of skin-tight sexy costumes Fonda did in the original movie, having recently donned a slinky leather catsuit as a battling vampire in the Underworld films.

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