IGN reports that Universal Pictures has dropped director Robert Rodriguez's planned remake of the sci-fi cult classic "Barbarella," leading the filmmaker to shop the project to other studios. But Universal's reason for backing out is rumored to be either over a ballooning budget or the casting of Rodriguez's girlfriend Rose McGowan (Grindhouse) in the title role.

According to an unnamed source for The New York Observer, "It's sort of embarrassing for everyone involved. ... No one thinks Rose can carry the movie, but Robert won't listen." The paper adds that producer Dino De Laurentiis "wants to back Robert and his vision. But Robert's vision is blurred by Rose." The studio reportedly wants a bigger name star such as Halle Berry or Jessica Alba.

Rodriguez disputes this claim, saying they were "blown over" by McGowan's audition and citing the project's ballooning budget as the reason for Universal's pullout. "Universal had initially signed on for $60 million," Rodriguez explained, "but then when we were done with the script it wound up at closer to $82 million, and they had just financed a Will Ferrell movie [Land of the Lost] that was a $130 million and they even cut that down to $100."

The filmmaker says Universal is still willing to fund the film for $60 million, but Rodriguez believes he can't make "Barbarella" for that price because of all the special effects that are required.