Producer
Paul Aratow landed a development deal for Sheena, Queen of the Jungle with Universal Pictures as early as 1975 as a proposed starring vehicle for
Raquel Welch. However, numerous script rewrites led to the project being put into turnaround. The project was picked up by United Artists, then after a failed script put in turnaround to Filmways (later Orion Pictures)where another failed script led to another turnaround deal at Avco-Embassy, who courteously released the project before their contract had expired to Columbia pictures. The first screenwriter at Columbia (in 1980) was
Leslie Stevens. At Columbia the script was subsequently completely rewritten by
David Newman and later tweaked by
Lorenzo Semple Jr.. At some point
Bo Derek was considered for the title role, and
Harrison Ford was offered the male lead, but casting amazedly ended up with Ted Wass and Tayna Roberts in the role of Sheena. The production was greenlighted in 1982.
more
