A reboot for 1995’s Xena: Warrior Princess is currently in development at NBC, according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter.
Originally a spinoff of Hercules, the reboot, which is being pitched as a “modern reboot,” is in very early stages of development at NBC and NBC Universal. While original executive producers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi will return for the reboot, a search for a writer is currently in progress.
Lucy Lawless played the titular role in the series’ original run, but it is unclear what, if any, role she will have in the reboot. Speaking to HitFix at Comic-Con, Lawless expressed her excitement over doing a reboot of some kind for Xena: Warrior Princess.
"I've been pitching that show…because…-there's a swell of interest still," Lawless said. "I'm always being peppered with questions [about] when the Xena movie is coming. Guys, I'm pitching my ass off to make it happen, whether it's with me or not. I think it'd be funny to have a reboot like Ash vs. Evil Dead — like middle-aged Xena in a muumuu with a bad attitude and a smoking habit. … Bring [actor] Ted Raimi [who played Joxer] in … [and maybe] Bruce Campbell."
"I don't know what the hold-up is; it's about who has got the rights," she added. "But that's a piss-poor excuse anymore. Find who has got the rights, freakin' pay it. It's better to have 80 percent of something than 100 percent of nothing. Don't waste this opportunity; reinvigorate that franchise!" she said. “It's an insane international character. They're fools not to bring it back. It's funny, it's sexy, it's action."
Just as remastered versions of video games continue to be developed, rebooted television programs are just beginning to make their mark with NBC also developing a reboot of Coach, starring Craig T. Nelson, Fox developing a limited six-episode reboot of X-Files, and Showtime is producing a Twin Peaks reboot/sequel, with original series creator and director David Lynch.
