The Soviet cinema tale Beautiful Varvara, Long Braid is headed for a new screen incarnation. This development was announced by TASS, referencing a message from the M. Gorky Film Studio.
In collaboration with the production company Mars Media, the studio plans a fresh adaptation of Alexander Rowe’s film Barbara the Beauty, Long Braid.
The project involves a remake of the narrative drawn from Vasily Zhukovsky’s poem The Tale of Tsar Berendey, the good Tsar Eremey and the evil Miracle Yuda, which centers on Varvara the Beautiful and her bond with a fisherman’s son named Andrei, as well as the Russian folk tale The Sea Tsar and Vasilisa the Wise. Filming for the 2025 version is slated to begin in due course.
The screenplay will be crafted by Evgenia Khripkova, known for works such as Call DiCaprio!, An Imperfect Man, and Malvina. Producers on board include Ruben Dishdishyan, Yulia Ivanova, Victoria Lokteva-Dobrynina, Yuliana Slashcheva, Lika Blanc, and Hasmik Movsisyan.
Khripkova aims to preserve the defining energy of the original while refining the dramatic structure and infusing it with contemporary relevance. She envisions a version that honors the story’s emotional core without relocating the action to a modern setting, instead weaving in details that resonate with today’s audiences.
The 1970 film Barbara with Long Braids remains a landmark in Rowe’s filmography, drawing an audience of 32.9 million in its opening year alone. Its enduring popularity underscores the enduring appeal of the tale and the potential for a renewed adaptation to connect with new generations.
Recently, animator and director Garry Bardeen addressed the remake of his animated work Flying Ship, noting that the production team did not reach out to him for collaboration. This remark highlights the common tensions that can accompany remakes and reimaginings in cinema and animation alike.
Earlier discussions and public statements also touched on the types of roles actors may pursue in future projects, signaling ongoing interest in the enduring folklore and mythic themes that have long captivated audiences across generations.