Barbra Streisand as Mama Rose in new big-screen version of Gypsy? Oh please let it come true!

You didn’t seriously think that Little Fockers would be how Barbra Streisand wanted to wrap up her brilliant film career?

The great star is reportedly in talks to star in a new version of the classic musical Gypsy as Mama Rose who was played in the original 1962 film by Rosalind Russell and in a 1993 television version by Bette Midler.

Streisand has met with the play’s lyrics writer, Stephen Sondheim, and book writer, Arthur Laurents, to discuss the possible new movie. According to The New York Times, Warner Bros. and Joel Silver are attached as producers, but as of now, no director has been chosen.

Laurents told The Times that Streisand would not direct the film although she once wanted to.

“…Playing Rose is enough to make her happy,” he said adding that she has been interested in doing Gypsy for many years, “but now things are serious and a movie is truly in the works.”

He said that he had suggested Tom Hanks to play the role of Herbie, Rose’s love interest and the talent manager of her two daughters, Baby June and Louise.

“Barbra loved the idea,” Mr. Laurents said.

The play and movie is based on the memoir by Gypsy Rose Lee, a burlesque dancer, and the relationship with her mother, Rose, who has since become the prototype of a “stage mom” in pop culture.

The role has, of course, been one of the great showcases for a number of actresses on Broadway starting with Ethel Merman who originated it. Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly and Patti LuPone won Tony Awards for their respective revivals of the show while Bernadette Peters was nominated for one.

Streisand won the Academy Award for her film debut in 1968’s Funny Girl and went on to headline the big-screen musicals Hello Dolly, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Funny Lady, A Star is Born and Yentl. She has not starred in a film since 1996’s The Mirror Has Two Faces but has taken supporting parts in 2004’s Meet the Fockers and this year’s sequel Little Fockers.

How great would it be to have the great Streisand taking on such a meaty role and also belting  out such numbers as Some People, Everything’s Coming Up Roses and Rose’s Turn.