Last summer, word broke that NBC was planning a new âmodern updateâ of Xena: Warrior Princess, the adventure series created by Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert in 1995. And while TVâs original Xena, Lucy Lawless, doesnât appear to be involved in the reboot, the project finally has a writer attached.
Former Lost supervising producer and writer, Javier Grillo-Marxuach will executive produce and write the new Xena: Warrior Princess series. Grillo-Marxuach also created the cult favorite comic The Middleman and its TV series adaptation. Grillo-Marxuach also has extensive genre TV experience including stints on Charmed, Helix, and Jake 2.0.
Raimi and Tapert are technically attached to the Xena reboot as well, but itâs unclear how involved they are with its development process. Raimi, Tapert, and Lawless are currently working with Bruce Campbell on Ash vs. Evil Dead, which has a second season lined up for 2016.
Last summer, NBCâs Bob Greenblatt told the Television Critics Association that âweâre in the early stages of developing a new take on Xena and weâre looking for a writer. We want to do it…I think itâs a great character, and we should try to figure out how to revive it somehow.â
The original Xena TV series was a spinoff of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys that ended up surpassing Hercules in terms of popularity and cultural impact. Xena: Warrior Princess comically mashed up history as needed, while Lawlessâ title character sought redemption for her previously evil ways alongside her companion, Gabrielle (Renee OâConnor). Campbell occasionally guest starred on Xena as Autolycus, the King of Thieves.
Who would you cast as Xena and Gabrielle in the new Xena: Warrior Princess reboot? Unleash the chakram and share your dream casting picks below!
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HT: Variety
Image Credit: NBC Universal