Clint Eastwood has Barbra Streisand to thank for handing over the reigns of the planned A Star Is Born remake after the veteran singer/actress passed on the opportunity to direct Beyonce in a revamp of her 1976 film.

Streisand portrayed the lead role in the movie musical, which itself was a reboot of Frederic March's 1937 classic, and when studio bosses decided to give the project a new spin for younger audiences, they approached the Funny Girl icon to take charge.

However, the 72 year old had no interest in returning to A Star Is Born - even though she is a big fan of Beyonce.

She tells People magazine, "(With that film), I thought, 'Been there, done that.' But I'd love to direct her (in another project)."

Streisand previously turned director for three movies, including 1983's Yentl and 1996 romantic drama The Mirror Has Two Faces.

Eastwood signed up to make a new version of A Star Is Born in 2011, but had to postpone the movie later that year after Beyonce fell pregnant. The Crazy In Love hitmaker has since pulled out of the project, which was put on hold again last year (13) to allow Eastwood the chance to step behind the camera for this year's (14) Jersey Boys film.