YNOT – The 76-year-old Italian director behind Caligula — arguably one of the rawest, most notorious cinematic epics ever — has said he will revisit the topic in 3D.Tinto Brass famously clashed with producers behind the 1979 saga about the troubled, often sadistic Roman emperor, saying the Americans who funded the project “ruined” the film by adding hardcore sex scenes he never intended to include. When he begins production on the remake in May or June, however, those scenes will form the foundation of the tale … and the whole thing will leap off the screen via the same sort of stereoscopic magic that breathed life into James Cameron’s runaway sci-fi hit Avatar.

Brass unabashedly said the new Caligula will be the world’s first pornographic feature. Entertainment pundits already are watching to see whether his prediction comes true, or whether the adult entertainment industry will beat Brass to the punch. So far, porn studios have eyed 3D technology with guarded optimism, but few have adopted the medium, largely because of the associated expense. In addition, most adult films are lensed for the home-entertainment market, and most home viewers see 3D technology, at least in its current state, as impractical, annoying and too costly.

In any case, Brass’ new Caligula technically won’t be the first 3D porn. The Stewardesses broke that barrier in 1969, though with rudimentary 3D photography. Although the movie more than reclaimed production costs, raking in about $27 million on a $100,000 production budget, it did not light a fire under the nascent medium.

That could change if consumer electronics manufacturers manage to capture the imaginations and wallets of average buyers with dazzling, affordable products for the home.

“We’re very excited to do 3D production,” Rob Smith, director of operations for Hustler Video Group, told the U.K.’s Guardian newspaper. “But we don’t feel market penetration [of 3D TVs] has hit the level we need.”